1 . After years of observing human nature, I have decided that two qualities make the difference between men of great achievement and men of average performance curiosity and discontent. I have never known an outstanding man who lacked either. And I have never known an average man who had both. The two belong together.
Together, these deep human urges (驱策力) count for much more that ambition. Galileo was not merely ambitious when he dropped objects of varying weights from the Leaning Tower at Pisa and timed their fall to the ground. Like Galileo, all the great names in history were curious and asked in discontent, “Why? Why? Why?”
Fortunately, curiosity and discontent don’t have to be learned. We are born with them and need only recapture them.
“The great man,” said Mencius (孟子), “is he who does not lose his child’s heart.” Yet most of us do lose it. We stop asking questions. We stop challenging custom. We just follow the crowd. And the crowd desires restful average. It encourages us to occupy our own little corner, to avoid foolish leaps into the dark, to be satisfied.
Most of us meet new people, and new ideas, with hesitation. But once having met and liked them, we think how terrible it would have been, had we missed the chance. We will probably have to force ourselves to waken our curiosity and discontent and keep them awake.
How should you start? Modestly, so as not to become discouraged. I think of one friend who couldn’t arrange flowers to satisfy herself. She was curious about how the experts did it. How she is one of the experts, writing books on flower arrangement.
One way to begin is to answer your own excuses. You haven’t any special ability? Most people don’t; there are only a few geniuses. You haven’t any time? That’s good, because it’s always the people with no time who get things done. Harriet Stowe, mother of six, wrote parts ofUncle Tom’s Cabinwhile cooking. You’re too old? Remember that Thomas Costain was 57 when he published his first novel, and that Grandma Moses showed her first pictures when she was 78.
However you start, remember there is no better time to start than right now, for you’ll never be more alive than you are at this moment.
1. In writing Paragraph 1, the author aims to ________.| A．propose a definition |
| B．make a comparison |
| C．reach a conclusion |
| D．present an argument |
| A．Trial and error leads to the finding of truth. |
| B．Scientists tend to be curious and ambitious. |
| C．Creativity results from challenging authority. |
| D．Greatness comes from a lasting desire to explore. |
| A．Observe the unknown around you. |
| B．Develop a questioning mind. |
| C．Lead a life of adventure. |
| D．Follow the fashion. |
| A．Gaining success helps you become an expert. |
| B．The genius tends to get things done creatively. |
| C．Lack of talent and time is no reason for taking no action. |
| D．You should remain modest when approaching perfection. |
| A．Curious Minds Never Feel Contented |
| B．Reflections on Human Nature |
| C．The Keys to Achievement |
| D．Never Too Late to Learn |
2 . Returning to a book you’ve read many times can feel like drinks with an old friend. There’s a welcome familiarity - but also sometimes a slight suspicion that time has changed you both, and thus the relationship. But books don’t change, people do. And that’s what makes the act of rereading so rich and transformative.
The beauty of rereading lies in the idea that our bond with the work is based on our present mental register. It’s true, the older I get, the more I feel time has wings. But with reading, it’s all about the present. It’s about the now and what one contributes to the now, because reading is a give and take between author and reader. Each has to pull their own weight.
There are three books I reread annually .The first, which I take to reading every spring is Emest Hemningway’s A Moveable Feast. Published in 1964, it’s his classic memoir of 1920s Paris. The language is almost intoxicating (令人陶醉的)，an aging writer looking back on an ambitious yet simpler time. Another is Annie Dillard’s Holy the Firm, her poetic 1975 ramble (随笔) about everything and nothing. The third book is Julio Cortazar’s Save Twilight: Selected Poems, because poetry. And because Cortazar.
While I tend to buy a lot of books, these three were given to me as gifs, which might add to the meaning I attach to them. But I imagine that, while money is indeed wonderful and necessary, rereading an author’s work is the highest currency a reader can pay them. The best books are the ones that open further as time passes. But remember, it’s you that has to grow and read and reread in order to better understand your friends.
1. Why does the author like rereading?| A．It evaluates the writer-reader relationship. |
| B．It’s a window to a whole new world. |
| C．It’s a substitute for drinking with a friend. |
| D．It extends the understanding of oneself. |
| A．It’s a brief account of a trip. |
| B．It’s about Hemingway’s life as a young man. |
| C．It’s a record of a historic event. |
| D．It’s about Hemingway’s friends in Paris. |
| A．Debt |
| B．Reward. |
| C．Allowance. |
| D．Face value. |
| A．He loves poetry. |
| B．He’s an editor. |
| C．He’s very ambitious. |
| D．He teaches reading. |
3 . It would be nice if eating a particular food could magically protect you against all the boring illnesses. It’s not that simple, of course. Hand washing remains your best defense against picking up illnesses, and sleep is a strong defense too. But what you eat does play an important part. Though it isn’t because of just one or two foods, what you eat in your daily diet have an effect on how weak or strong your immunity(免疫力)is.
We’d better eat fruits and vegetables every day. They contain key vitamins needed in the immune system. For example, Vitamin C and Ain foods help immune system work well to keep us healthy. Remember that eating the actual fruit or veggie is better than eating single-vitamin supplements(补品).
Getting too little protein(蛋白质) can weaken your immune system. Protein-rich foods supply the amino acids(氨基酸)you need to build important proteins in the body. Animal foods like beef and pork also contain zinc(锌), which your body uses to make t-cells.
Fermented foods are foods that are naturally protected by bacteria(细菌), and they’re good for the micro biome(微生物).That’s the name for the bacteria that live in your stomach, where a lot of cells in immunity actually live. Fermented foods like yogurt help beneficial bacteria develop fast in the stomach, leaving less room for harmful bacteria.
1. What does paragraph 1 mainly tell us?| A．Hand washing is necessary. | B．Illnesses make people bored. |
| C．Immunity has much to do with your diet. | D．More sleep does good to health. |
| A．They are rich in vitamins we need. |
| B．Vitamin A is helpful for immunity. |
| C．Fruits supply our body with Vitamin C only. |
| D．Eating single-vitamin foods does little good. |
| A．Amino acids can help to make t-cells. |
| B．Healthy body needs plenty of protein. |
| C．The immune system can be hurt easily. |
| D．We should eat animal foods as many as possible. |
| A．Different foods have different uses. |
| B．Fruits and vegetables keep us healthy. |
| C．Many illnesses do harm to the immunity. |
| D．Proper daily diet protects our immune system. |
4 . There are many things we remember from our childhood—the games we played, the music we listened to, but what about earning pocket money? This was our first ever wage for completing tasks such as tidying our bedroom or sorting the laundry. Our reward was a handful of coins that we safely hid away. But now, it seems parents’ attitude to handing out cash is changing.
There was a time when cash was king—it was the main currency for financial deals. These days, though, using credit or debit cards, or making contactless payments, are the most convenient ways of paying. So where does that leave handing over pocket money? Research has found that 84% of British parents currently give notes and coins to their children— typically an allowance of £7 a week.
But banks predict that by 2028 only one in ten deals will be with cash, and that is something that today’s children will have to deal with. One particular issue is that children may not understand the value of cash because they never see it. Parents face difficult choices too— finding a new way to transfer pocket money, or maybe not bothering to pay it at all.
Giving children lessons about finance at school is important. Children should be provided with financial literacy at an early age. That is vital to ensure proper money management skills later in life, such as setting a realistic budget, responsibly managing credit and debt, saving for unexpected expenses. The UK’s Money and Pensions Service advises parents to get children started with money as young as possible. Sarah Porretta from the service told the BBC that for parents who no longer carry cash, “The trick is to go and get some cash, just so your children have the opportunity to interact with them. Talk about what you are doing with money. If you are paying with a card or with a phone, talk to children about that and link it back to those coins they have handled.”
But, of course, many of the goods that young people want to buy—such as add-ons for a computer game—only allow digital deals. This has led to a number of apps being set up that allow children to track and spend their hard-earned pocket money and parents to transfer money electronically and monitor their child’s spending. Banks also suggest setting up accounts for older children which gives them a cash card to use. But whatever method a parent chooses to adopt, they need to teach their kids that money doesn’t grow on trees!
1. What can you learn from the passage?| A．The custom of giving children pocket money is disappearing. |
| B．Banks predict people will pay most of the deals in cash by 2028. |
| C．It isn’t necessary for children to experience the course of using cash. |
| D．Cash-free payments are convenient ways of purchasing goods these days. |
| A．digital deal |
| B．cash payment |
| C．financial literacy |
| D．pocket money |
| A．offer chances for children to use cash |
| B．no longer carry cash when they go out |
| C．play some tricks with kids using the coins |
| D．play cards and make phone calls with children |
| A．To stress the importance of paying in cash. |
| B．To introduce the development of pocket money. |
| C．To explain why the ways of payment are changing. |
| D．To develop children’s awareness of money management. |
5 . What’s happening?
Your guide to the best place to go in town.
The Art of the Camera
Beautiful exhibition from some of the best young photographers working today.
Stamford Hall, June 20th — 30th
Free
Film Club
Tonight’s movie at the Young People’s Film Club is the last of the series starring the Oscar-winning actor Johnny Depp. It’s the wonderful pirates of the Carbbean!
Starts 6;30 pm. Tickets £3
Winning Voices
More than 20 bands (乐队) play their best songs in a competition to win a great prize: a place in the national final and the chance to record a CD.
Stretford Student Center, 6 pm
Tickets £10 and £7.5
Streetlife Dance Group
Come and see the amazing “SDG” at the Atlas Centre. Twenty- four dancers aged between 11 and 18 show off their skills in street dancing for you.
Starts 7 pm. Tickets£15.
Young Vic Theatre
The final performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is tonight. This is your last chance to see this wonderful play. Don’t miss it.
Starts 8 pm. Tickets £9, £7 and £5.50
1. What can we learn about the Art of the Camera?| A．It lasts half a month | B．It shows some old photos |
| C．It is held by 24 young artists | D．It is open to the public for free |
| A．In Stamford Hall | B．At the Atlas Centre |
| C．At Young Vic Theatre | D．At Stretford Student Centre |
| A．See Romeo and Juliet | B．Watch Winning Voices |
| C．See Pirates of the Caribbean | D．Watch Streetlife Dance Group |
6 . When Jenny Benson was eight, her mother took her to soccer practice for the first time.
“She’s never played soccer before,” Mrs Benson told the coach.“I’m not sure how she’ll do.”
Jenny ran onto the field and joined the other players. Over the next hour, Mrs Benson and the coach watched as Jenny outran many of the more experienced players.
“I knew then that soccer would be Jenny’s sport.” Mrs Benson recalls. And she was right.
It may have helped that Jenny had spent much of her time trying to keep up with her three brothers.“I wanted to be just like them,” Jenny says.“My family has inspired me for my entire life.”
Jenny has retired from the United States women’s national soccer team. She started out on her professional career in the Philadelphia Charge, a team in the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA)．Later on, she joined FC Energy Voronezh, and then New Jersey Wildcats.
When the WUSA was being formed, league officials watched many college soccer games, looking for players good enough to join the league. They were very interested in Jenny, who played for the University of Nebraska.
“Throughout that college season, I knew I was being watched,” Jenny says, “I knew I couldn’t be perfect, so I just tried to be very consistent and have fun.”
As a professional, Jenny relied on her focused but funloving attitude. “In a game, I try never to put too much pressure on myself. The more I concentrate on having fun, the better I play.” She says. “I have good and bad days, just like everyone else, but I know the sun will always come up after a bad day. So all I have to do is to adjust myself, either to the change of my inner feelings or to the change of circumstances.That helps me get through anything.”
1. What can we learn from Jenny’s first soccer practice?| A．She was not sure how to play soccer. |
| B．She was gifted in playing soccer. |
| C．She was instructed by the soccer coach. |
| D．She was more experienced than other players. |
| A．New Jersey Wildcats. |
| B．FC Energy Voronezh. |
| C．The University of Nebraska. |
| D．The Philadelphia Charge. |
| A．Talented but impatient. |
| B．Confident and considerate. |
| C．Concentrated and adaptable. |
| D．Absorbed but selfcentered. |
| A．How Jenny developed her soccer career. |
| B．Why Jenny retired from the national team. |
| C．How Jenny’s brothers influenced her career. |
| D．What made Jenny a good soccer player. |
7 . Food sometimes gets poisoned(中毒) with harmful things. A person who eats such food can get an illness called food poisoning. Food poisoning is usually not serious, but some types are deadly. The symptoms of food poisoning usually begin within hours of eating the poisoned food. Fever is one of the most common symptoms.
Certain microorganisms(微生物) cause most types of food poisoning. Bacteria and other microorganisms can poison eggs, meat, vegetables, and many other foods. After entering the body, these tiny living things release(释放) poisons that make people sick.
Some chemicals(化合物) can also cause food poisoning. They are often added to food while it is being grown, processed, or prepared. For example, many farmers spray chemicals on crops to kill weeds and insects. Some people may have a bad reaction to those chemicals when they eat the crops.
Some plants and animals contain natural poisons that are harmful to people. These include certain kinds of seafood, grains, nuts, seeds, beans, and mushrooms.
When people handle food properly, the risk of food poisoning is very small. Microorganisms multiply rapidly in dirty places and in warm temperatures. This means that people should never touch food with dirty hands or put food on unwashed surfaces. Food should be kept in a refrigerator to stop microorganisms from growing. Meat needs to be cooked thoroughly to kill any dangerous microorganisms. People should also wash food covered with chemicals before eating it. Finally, people should not eat wild mushrooms or other foods that grow in the wild. Some of these foods may contain natural materials that are poisonous to humans. In addition, some types of fish can be poisonous.
Most people recover from food poisoning after a few day of resting and drinking extra water. If people eat natural poisons, they must go to the hospital right away to have their stomachs emptied.
1. Which of the following statements is NOT true?| A．Food when poisoned can make people sick. | B．Food poisoning means death. |
| C．Food poisoning comes in varieties. | D．Food poisoning can be serious. |
| A．are always accompanied by a fever | B．are too common to be noted |
| C．can be noticed within hours | D．can he ignored |
| A．some chemicals | B．low temperatures |
| C．some tiny living things | D．certain natural materials |
| A．mushrooms should not be eaten |
| B．vegetables are safer than meat and seafood |
| C．natural poisons are more dangerous than chemicals |
| D．different types of food should be handled differently |
8 . Choose Your One-Day-Tours!
Tour A - Bath &Stonehenge including entrance fees to the ancient Roman bathrooms and Stonehenge -￡37 until 26 March and ￡39 thereafter. Visit the city with over 2,000 years of history and Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent and the Costume Museum, Stonehenge is one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments dating back over 5,000 years.
Tour B - Oxford & Stratford including entrance fees to the University St Mary’s Church Tower and Anne Hathaway’s -￡32 until 12 March and ￡36 thereafter. Oxford: Includes a guided tour of England’s oldest university city and colleges. Look over the “city of dreaming spires(尖顶）” from St Mary‘s Church Tower. Stratford: Includes a guided tour exploring much of the Shakespeare wonder.
Tour C - Windsor Castle &Hampton Court: including entrance fees to Hampton Court Palace -￡34 until 11 March and ￡37 thereafter. Includes a guided tour of Windsor and Hampton Court, Henry VILL’s favorite palace. Free time to visit Windsor Castle(entrance fees not included).With 500 years of history, Hampton Court was once the home of four Kings and one Queen. Now this former royal palace is open to the public as a major tourist attraction. Visit the palace and its various historic gardens, which include the famous maze(迷宫) where it is easy to get lost!
Tour D –Cambridge including entrance fees to the Tower of Saint Mary the Great -￡33 until 18 March and ￡37 thereafter. Includes a guided tour of Cambridge, the famous university town, and the gardens of the 18th century.
1. Which tour will you choose if you want to see England’s oldest university city?| A．Tour A | B．Tour B |
| C．Tour C | D．Tour D |
| A．Windsor Castle & Hampton Court | B．Oxford & Stratford |
| C．Bath & Stonehenge | D．Cambridge |
| A．It used to be the home of royal families | B．It used to be a well-known maze |
| C．It is the oldest palace in Britain | D．It is a world-famous castle |
