1 . She was returning from teaching out in a small community. It was a black, moonless night, and a heavy snow was falling.
She thought back to the time when she had first started teaching out in small communities. During those days she had always picked up hitchhikers (搭便车者), until the day her sister told her that one of her friends had been shot in the head by a hitchhiker, all because she had stopped out of kindness to help him during a storm.
Her family didn't stop worrying about her safety over the hitchhikers until the family heard the promise: “No more hitchhikers!” The snow that night was making her think back to this.
Then she saw a man waving. She slowed down for him, but as he ran toward the car in the dark, she shook with fear. Yet she thought that if he was truly in need, she couldn't leave him here in this storm.
The stranger explained that his car was dead, and she told him to get in. They drove for an hour into the next city and she took him to a convenience store. She waited until he had made a call. When he reported back to her that a family member would soon come to pick him up, she wished him well and then left.
Tears fell on her cheeks as she drove away. It felt as though she had been holding her breath for an hour.
“I hope they'll understand why I had to break my promise,” she thought.
1. What made the woman's family worried about her safety?| A．She had been hurt by a hitchhiker. |
| B．A friend of her sister's was killed by a hitchhiker. |
| C．There were often snowstorms on her way home. |
| D．Her car often broke down on her way home. |
| A．his car had broken down | B．he would die |
| C．he couldn't find his way home | D．he couldn't get in touch with his friends |
| A．She was sorry to pick up the stranger. |
| B．She felt too tired to breathe. |
| C．She had been afraid of being with the stranger. |
| D．She had been too careful when driving in the storm. |
| A．A safety problem | B．An important hitchhiker |
| C．A friendly stranger | D．A broken promise |
2 . I have been playing basketball since I've been in the 6th grade. I first started out in the summer before 6th grade when I played for the Park District Traveling Basketball Team. This is where I first learned how to play basketball and found out I wasn't very good at it. This is the main reason why I liked football more than basketball, because I was naturally good at football and didn't have to work as hard. But I was always encouraged to never give up, I kept at it and kept working on my basketball skill so I could be good enough to play for my high school basketball team. I played for my high school basketball team during high school.
During those years in high school, I really began to practice hard on improving my basketball skills. My main goal was to get an athletics scholarship to college and get a free education. I indeed achieved this goal and was awarded a two year basketball scholarship at Parkland Junior College. There in my two years I was truly better than I was when I first started out playing basketball, which I know was because of the hard work I put into improving my skills all throughout my life.
After having two good seasons at Parkland on and off the playground I graduated. The final step I had in mind was to come to Northern Illinois University and make the basketball team. Many doubted me and said I wasn't good enough to make the team, but instead of listening to them, giving up or stopping working hard like I've been doing all my life, I worked the hardest. I've worked over the summer. And all the hard work paid off and I am now a member of the Northern Illinois University Basketball Team.
1. Why did the author prefer football to basketball?| A．His physical condition decided it. | B．He was more skilled at football. |
| C．He was encouraged to like football. | D．He has been playing football for a long time. |
| A．To be the team leader. | B．To go to a good college. |
| C．To pay no school fees in college. | D．To prove he was good at basketball. |
| A．Be ignored. | B．Be employed. | C．Be useless. | D．Be rewarded. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Time is money. |
| C．It's never too old to learn. | D．Failure is the mother of success. |
3 . Sleep Struggle
One in every five young people has a sleep problem, so you're not alone. Getting enough sleep has become as important as eating vegetables and exercising regularly. It's very important for your body.
Most young people only get seven hours of sleep each night, when they actually need nine hours. And making up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping on weekends doesn't really work. In fact, sleeping late on weekends may actually do you more harm than good, if you have sleep problems.
What happens if you don't get enough sleep? If your sleep problem continues for a few nights, you could suffer serious problems. Lack of sleep can affect learning and memory. Worse，if your sleep difficulties last a long time，that could lead to anxiety（焦虑）. Therefore，you've got to have some healthy sleep habits. Below are some suggestions:
* Go to bed at the same time—including weekends, if possible.
* Wake up around the same time every morning. When you sleep late just one morning during the week, it may disturb your body clock. This will make it hard for you to sleep that night.
* Do something relaxing before going to bed.
* Exercise during the day. Don't exercise right before going to bed.
* Avoid drinking. Alcohol（酒精）makes you excited. This prevents you from falling asleep or wakes you up during the night.
* Don't smoke. Smoking is always bad for the body. Smoking before bedtime keeps you awake.
If trying these tips over a couple of weeks does not help you, consult your doctor. Do not take any medicine without first asking your doctor. Many of them have strong side effects.
1. The passage suggests that people with sleep problems should .| A．eat vegetables and exercise regularly |
| B．make up for lost sleep on weekends |
| C．follow a fixed timetable for sleep |
| D．sleep seven hours every day |
| A．Getting up earlier than usual in the morning. |
| B．Listening to soft music before going to bed. |
| C．Drinking alcohol before going to bed. |
| D．Doing exercise in the evening. |
| A．Just keep trying. |
| B．Turn to a doctor for help. |
| C．Try some medicines. |
| D．Wait for your sleeping problems to get better. |
| A．A diary. | B．A novel. |
| C．A travel guide. | D．A magazine. |
4 . Computer technology has its own special words. One example is the word “mouse”. A computer mouse is not a small animal that lives in buildings or open fields. It is a small object that you move around on a flat surface in front of a computer. The mouse moves the pointer on the computer screen. Computer expert （专家）Douglas Engelbart developed the idea of the mouse in the early 1960s. It was called a mouse because it had a tail at one end. The tail was the wire （电线）that connected it to the computer.
Using a computer takes some training. People who are experts are sometimes called hackers. A hacker is usually a person who writes software programs in a special computer language. But the word “hacker” is also used to describe a person who tries to steal information from computer systems.
Another well known computer word is Google, spelled g-o-o-g-l-e. It is the name of a popular “search engine（引擎）“for the Internet. People use the search engine to find information about almost any subjects on the Internet. People who started the company named it Google because in mathematics, googol, spelled g-o-o-g-o-I, is an extremely large number. It is the number followed by one hundred zeros.
If you Google someone, you might find that person's name on a blog. A blog is the shortened name for a Weblog. A blog is a personal Web page. It may have stories, opinions, pictures and links（链接）to other Web sites. Some people add information to their blogs every day. People who have blogs are called bloggers.
Blogs are not the same as spam. Spam is unwanted sales messages sent to your electronic mailbox...
1. How did the computer mouse get its name?| A．Because of its size. | B．Because of its use. |
| C．Because of its appearance. | D．Because of mouse's living habits. |
| A．often surfs the Internet | B．steals things from other people |
| C．needs some training in computer | D．is experienced in writing computer language |
| A．By giving examples. |
| B．By following the order of time. |
| C．By asking and answering questions. |
| D．By comparing different computer words. |
| A．Computer technology. |
| B．Some famous computer experts. |
| C．Some computer words and their meanings. |
| D．How to use some computer words properly. |
5 . Nola （August 21, 1974 -November 22, 2015） was a northern white rhino who lived at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park near Escondido, California. At her death, she was one of only four remaining northern white rhinos in the world. The other three lived in Kenya. World Rhino Day, held on September 22, is to raise awareness（意识）of the less than 30,000 other rhinos left on Earth.
“Rhinos need our help today, not tomorrow. "Nola's lead keeper Jane Kennedy said. "Last year we lost over 1,200 rhinos just in South Africa. If we continue to lose more than 1,000 rhinos a year, in 10 to 20 years all the rhinos on the earth will be gone."
Unfortunately, most animals are in danger of dying out because of humans. Kennedy says, “Humans have either poached （偷猎）animals, or because there are over seven billion of us, we've taken up too much of the world's resources." Poachers illegally hunt rhinos for their horns （角）.They sell the horns for thousands of dollars per pound, to be used for art, jewelry, and decorations. Experts believe that one rhino is poached every eight hours.
In 1975, the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research started the Frozen Zoo, a program through which researchers have collected cell samples（细胞样品）from more than 8,000 different types of animals, including the northern white rhino. Scientists hope that by studying the rhino cells, they will get greater understanding of it, and will find ways to increase its numbers.
At the San Diego Zoo, children and adults are welcome to visit and speak with zookeepers to learn about rhinos. For more information, go to www.worldrhinoday.org.
1. What is the purpose of setting up a World Rhino Day?| A．To honor a rhino named Nola. |
| B．To draw people's attention to rhino protection. |
| C．To let people know the importance of wildlife protection. |
| D．To tell people there are still a great number of rhinos left on Earth. |
| A．Rhinos will die out soon. |
| B．The number of rhinos is increasing. |
| C．Rhinos are under good protection. |
| D．Immediate action should be taken to protect rhinos. |
| A．Human beings' technology. | B．The limited natural resources. |
| C．The pollution of the environment. | D．Diseases found on their horns. |
| A．Science. | B．Sports. | C．Education. | D．Business |
6 . Are Superheroes Good Role Models?
Superheroes are everywhere. But what effect, if any, do superheroes have on our behavior? Some experts believe superheroes may have a particularly important influence on children.
Children have very limited control over many areas of their lives. Therefore, pretending to be a superhero allows a child to act out and process any anxiety that they have, and thereby overcome or reduce hidden fears, says Dr. Amy Bailey, a clinical psychologist.
Bailey adds, "The risk to superhero play is that sometimes children’s behavior can become out of control and turn into chaotic play as a child becomes completely lost in these roles." She advises parents to keep children away from more aggressive（暴力的）shows and to have children focus on "other positive characteristics of their favorite hero, such as their clever thinking and care of others". Concern over the possible effect of aggressive behavior has led to some schools banning（禁止）superhero play from the classroom.
Other psychologists（心理学家）share this concern. Some point to the change of the superhero over time, and are dissatisfied with modern images. "There is a big difference in the movie superhero of today and the comic book superhero of yesterday" says Sharon Lamb. She compares the selfish, playboy millionaire Tony Stark（Iron Man）to a superhero of the past, such as Superman. Superman she points out, had a real job as a newspaper reporter and was devoted to fighting injustice（不公平）. More recent characters such as Iron Man "take advantage of women, show off wealth, and show their manhood with high-powered guns".
Jeff Greenberg, a social psychology professor, has his own idea of modern superheroes. According to him, superheroes give children confidence and can deliver a positive moral message. Many superheroes-such as Spider-Man or Superman-use their powers to protect the weak. And more modern superheroes such as Daredevil, who is blind, and Charles Xavier（Professor）, who is disabled, bring diversity（多样性） and present positive images of disability.
1. What can we learn from the passage?| A．Superheroes can have a negative effect on children. |
| B．Superheroes always encourage children to be confident. |
| C．The idea of the superhero remains the same over time. |
| D．Children should be kept away from superhero movies. |
| A．The ban on superhero play in classroom. |
| B．The possible effect of aggressive behavior. |
| C．The various characteristics of superheroes. |
| D．The belief of children in superhuman strength. |
| A．Paragraph 1 to Paragraph 2. |
| B．Paragraph 1 to Paragraph 3. |
| C．Paragraph 3 to Paragraph 5. |
| D．Paragraph 1 to Paragraph2 & Paragraph 5. |
| A．Science Research. | B．Breaking News. |
| C．World Screen. | D．Environment. |
7 . At thirteen, I was diagnosed (诊断) with kind of attention disorder. It made school difficult for me. When everyone else in the class was focusing on tasks, I could not.
In my first literature class, Mrs. Smith asked us to read a story and then write on it, all within 45 minutes. I raised my hand right away and said, “Mrs. Smith, you see, the doctor said I have attention problems. I might not be able to do it.”
She glanced down at me through her glasses, “You are not different from your classmates, young man.” I tried, but I didn’t finish the reading when the bell rang. I had to take it home.
In the quietness of my bedroom, the story suddenly all became clear to me. It was about a blind person, Louis Braile. He lived in a time when the blind couldn’t get much education. But Louis didn’t give up. Instead, he invented a reading system of raised dots (点), which opened up a whole new world of knowledge to the blind.
Wasn’t I the “blind” in my class, being made to learn like the “sighted” students? My thoughts spilled out and my pen started to dance. I completed the task within 40 minutes. Indeed, I was not different from others; I just needed a quieter place. If Louis could find his way out of his problem, why should I ever give up?
I didn’t expect anything when I handed in my paper to Mrs. Smith, so it was quite a surprise when it came back to me the next day — with an “A” on it. At the bottom of the paper were these words, “See what you can do when you keep trying?”
1. What problem did the author meet when he was in class?| A．He didn’t like the teacher. | B．He was not fond of literature. |
| C．The classroom was too noisy. | D．He couldn’t focus his attention in class. |
| A．He managed to cure his blindness. |
| B．He got a good education at school. |
| C．He made an invention which helped the blind. |
| D．He couldn’t see and read for the whole life. |
| A．She encouraged him. | B．She looked down on him. |
| C．She sympathized (同情) him. | D．She was angry with him. |
| A．How to be a great teacher. | B．Keep trying, and you can do it. |
| C．What should you do as a blind. | D．Ways to overcome attention disorder. |
Where: Becket, Massachusetts
When: Jun.15-Aug.24
Each summer, this influential dance center presents a number of classes and performances by more than 50 companies from around the world. Highlights(最精彩的部分) in this season include the Dance Theater of Harlem’s production of Alvin Ailey’s "The Lark Ascending", which opens the festival.
Many events are free. Ticketed performances start at $22. Jacobs pillow. org.
Moab Music Festival
Where: Moab, Utah
When: Aug. 29-Sept. 9
This area is better known for mountain biking than for music. But since 1992, it has hosted a private festival that brings classical, jazz, Latin and other types of music to the land. This year there will be 16 concerts, including three "Grotto Concerts", where guests take a 45-minute boat ride down the Colorado river to performances.
Events start at $25. moabmusicfest.org.
Cheyenne Frontier Days
Where: Cheyenne, W yoming
When: July19-28
There is something for everyone at this 117-year-old festival, from an "Indian village and Old West museum" to country concerts. But the competition is still the main attraction, with cowboys and cowgirls competing for major money in the world’s largest outdoor stage.
Competition tickets start at $18, and concert tickets at$23. cfdrodeo.com.
The Glimmerglass Festival
Where: Cooperstown, New York
When: July 6-Aug.24
Each summer, opera lovers from around the country travel to upstate New York to watch productions that include stars like Nathan Gunn and Ginger Costa-Jackson. This year’s performances include Wagner’s "The Flying Dutchman" and Verdi’s "King for a Day", in honor of the 200th birthdays of both composers(作曲家).
Tickets start at $26. glimmerglass.org.
1. Where can you watch a competition and enjoy concerts?| A．In Becket, Massachusetts. | B．In Moab, Utah. |
| C．In Cheyenne, Wyoming. | D．In Cooperstown, New York. |
| A．Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. | B．The Glimmerglass Festival. |
| C．Cheyenne Frontier Days. | D．Moab Music Festival. |
| A．To introduce some art festivals. |
| B．To compare which art festival is the best. |
| C．To call on people to support those festivals. |
| D．To advise readers to join and perform in the festivals. |
9 . On a farm in England, Gavin and Alice Munro are taking sustainability to the next level: they harvest trees which they grow into chairs.
The couple have a furniture（家具）farm in Derbyshire where they are growing 250 chairs, 100 lamps and 550 tables. It is their answer to what they see as the inefficient（无效率的）process of cutting down mature trees to create furniture.
"Instead of force-growing a tree for 50 years and then cutting it down and making it into smaller and smaller bits…the idea is to grow the tree into the shape that you want directly. It’s like a kind of 3D printing, "said Gavin.
Part of the inspiration for the idea came when Gavin was a young boy. He spotted an overgrown bonsai tree（盆栽） which looked like chair.
The 44-year-old began experimenting in 2006. In 2012, Gavin and Alice set up the company Full Grown. Within several years, the couple developed the most effective way to shape a tree without limiting its growth. They guided shoots（嫩枝）already heading in the right direction, rather than force them the wrong way against their natural growth.
The average chair takes six to nine years to grow-and another year to dry out. The labor and time involved in producing the organic pieces means they do not come cheap. Chairs sell for ￡10,000 each, lamps for ￡900 to ￡2,300 and tables for ￡2,500 to ￡12,500.
1. How could the couple grow trees into a shape they needed?| A．They used 3D printing. |
| B．They limited their growth. |
| C．They forced trees into different shapes. |
| D．They guided their shoots in the right direction. |
| A．When he was a child. | B．When they got married. |
| C．When they bought the farm. | D．When they began experimenting in 2006. |
| A．Big and eco-friendly. | B．Natural but expensive. |
| C．Hand-made and creative. | D．Traditional but organic. |
| A．A Couple Grow Furniture | B．Expensive Grown Chairs |
| C．It’s A Good Try Of Sustainability | D．Grown Trees Gain Popularity |
10 . Volunteer Chances for Teens
About Learning Buddies
Learning Buddies is an education program for K-5 students at the Beacon Hill, Columbia, Douglass-Truth, New Holly and West Seattle Library branches (分馆). Teen volunteers and kids read together, learn math and play educational games with support from librarians.
If you are a high school student who enjoys math, reading and helping kids succeed in school, please consider volunteering as a Learning Buddy. You will get service learning experience and earn(获得) community service hours for school.
Learning Buddies teaches kids once a week. Volunteer chances are offered at the following Library branches, October through December and March through May.
●Beacon Hill Branch: Tuesday, 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
●Columbia Branch: Thursday, 4:15p.m. to 5:45 p.m
.●Douglass-Truth Branch: Tuesday, 4:15 p.m.to 5:45 p.m.
●New-Holly Branch: Tuesday, 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
●West Seattle Branch: Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Become a Learning Buddy
High school students must be at least 14 years old and live close to a Library branch that offers the Learning Buddies program.
You can ask for a volunteer application (申请书) and attend an interview at one of the following Library branches at least one month before the fall or spring Learning Buddies series.
● Beacon Hill Branch: call the Teen Services Librarian at 206-684-4711.
●Columbia Branch: call the Teen Services Librarian at 206-386- 1908.
●Douglass-Truth Branch: call Services Librarian at 206-684-4704.
● New-Holly Branch: call the Supervising Librarian at 206-386- 1905.
●West Seattle Branch: call the Teen Services Librarian at 206-684-7444.
1. Which number should you call if you want to volunteer on Thursday?| A．206-684-4711. | B．206-386-1908. |
| C．206-684-4704. | D．206-386-1905. |
| A．be 14 years old or over |
| B．do well in all school subjects |
| C．live close to the kids being taught |
| D．be able to teach kids twice a week |
| A．A travel guide. | B．A science report. |
| C．An invitation. | D．An advertisement. |
