1 . We live in a world where it's often not easy to find someone to trust. A smiling person always inspires trust. Even economists consider that smiles are valuable.A smile may increase other people's trust by about 10%.
People may also smile when they are caught doing bad things.According to a study made by LaFrance and Hecht，this can in fact be to their own advantage.We have a tendency to be kinder towards those who make mistakes if they wear a smile while being caught.Even a guilty smile may help you get away pretty easily when you make mistakes.
We may also smile when we hear a piece of good news.In this case，women tend to smile more often than men.Smiling can also be a means of reducing the pain caused by a troubling situation.Even if we force ourselves to smile when we don't want to，this may be enough to lift our spirits just a little bit.
When we feel angry or anxious，our attention tends to narrow down.We can no longer see what's going on around us and we can only notice what is in front of us.But if we smile，we feel better and increase flexibility of our attention and the ability to think.Smiling can help us focus and understand better.
“Keep on smiling，and the world will smile with you.”One of the greatest social pleasure is to smile and be smiled to in return，especially because this comes like a natural thing.
People who smile often live longer.A study based on some pictures taken of some baseball players suggested that those who used to smile a lot survived about 7 years longer than those who did not smile very often.
1. The passage mainly talks about .| A．the benefits of smiling |
| B．the occasions when you smile |
| C．the ways of smiling |
| D．the reasons why people smile |
| A．admit their mistakes |
| B．show they are excited |
| C．avoid blame or punishment |
| D．prove they are kind |
| A．men seldom smile at a piece of good news |
| B．smiles can be helpful whatever the situation is |
| C．we should force ourselves to smile whenever it is |
| D．in general，men are more likely to smile than women |
| A．if we smile, it is hard to be smiled to |
| B．if we smile, others will smile to us in return |
| C．if we want to smile, the world will smile to us in time |
| D．if we smile sometimes, we will make the world full of smiles |
2 . Did you know that Albert Einstein could not speak until he was four years old, and could not read until he was seven? His parents and teachers worried about his mental (大脑的) ability.
Beethoven’s music teacher said about him, “As a composer (作曲家) he is hopeless.” What if this young boy had believed it?
When Thomas Edison was a young boy, his teachers said he was so stupid that he could never learn anything. He once said, “I remember I used to never be able to get along at school. I was always at the foot of my class ... My father thought I was stupid, and I almost decided that I was a stupid person.” What if young Thomas had believed what they said about him?
When the sculptor (雕刻家) Auguste Rodin was young, he had difficulty learning to read and write. Today, we may say he had a learning disability. His father said of him, “I have an idiot (白痴) for a son.” His uncle agreed. “He’s uneducable,” he said. What if Rodin had doubted his ability?
Walt Disney was once fired by a newspaper editor because he was thought to have no “good ideas”. Enrico Caruso was told by one music teacher, “You can’t sing. You have no voice at all.” And an editor told Louisa May Alcott that she was unable to write anything that would have popular attraction.
What if these people had listened and become discouraged? Where would our world be without the music of Beethoven, the art of Rodin or the ideas of Albert Einstein and Walt Disney? As Oscar Levant once said, “It’s not what you are but what you don’t become that hurts.”
You have great potential (潜力). When you believe in all you can be, rather than all you cannot become, you will find your place on earth.
1. How many successful people are mentioned as examples in the passage?| A．Six. | B．Seven. | C．Eight. | D．Nine. |
| A．When he was young, Thomas Edison always got good grades at school. |
| B．Levant thought Louisa May Alcott couldn’t write any popular works. |
| C．Only Auguste Rodin’s uncle regarded him a boy of learning ability. |
| D．Both Enrico Caruso and Beethoven achieved their dreams in music. |
| A．He is too stupid to be taught. | B．He is very clever. |
| C．He is different. | D．He is a late success. |
| A．Working Hard for Success | B．Having Dreams |
| C．Believing in Yourself | D．Self-challenging |
3 . Smartphones, tablets and smart watches are banned at school for all children under 15 in France. Under the ban students are not able to use their phones at all during school hours, including meal breaks.
“I think it’s a good thing. School is not about being on your phone,” Paris mum Marie-Caroline Madeleine told AFP. “It’s hard with kids. You can’t control what they see and that’s one of the things that worries me as a parent.”
There is no law like this in Australia, but some Australian schools have banned phones. McKinnon Secondary School in Victoria introduced a total ban in February and Principal Pitsa Binnion said this has been a success. McKinnon students still have a Chromebook to use in every class for day-to-day learning but they're not allowed to use social media. Ms. Binnion said at first “teachers cheered and students moaned (抱怨),” but now they’re seeing the positives (优势). “They come to school and they’re not allowed to use phones at all during the school day, including lunch breaks,” she said.
“It’s been wonderful as for students communicating with each other at lunchtime and not looking at their screen,” Ms. Binnion said. She also leads by example and doesn’t use her mobile phone in school. “I think anyone can do it if we’ve done it.”
Not everyone agrees with the bans. Western Sydney University technology researcher Dr. Joanne Orlando wrote in online magazine The Conversation earlier this year that Australia should not ban phones in schools because it’s important to educate kids to live in the age they are raised in. “A good education for students today is knowing how to use technology to learn, communicate and work with ideas,” she wrote. “Banning students from using smartphones is a 1950s response to a 2020 state-of-play.”
1. Why did Madeleine welcome the ban?| A．Teachers find it hard to control kids. |
| B．Kids behave badly nowadays. |
| C．School is for studying. |
| D．Her kids depend too much on phones. |
| A．Students can now see the good of the ban. |
| B．Some teachers were against it at first. |
| C．Students can use their phones at lunch breaks. |
| D．Teachers have stopped using phones at school as well. |
| A．It will disconnect parents and kids. |
| B．It will cause kids to communicate less. |
| C．It will make education go back 60 years. |
| D．It will prevent kids being tech-minded. |
| A．Ms. Binnion doesn’t take her mobile phone to school. |
| B．Ms. Binnion forbids anyone to use mobile phones in school. |
| C．The students may follow Ms. Binnion, not using mobile phones in school. |
| D．The students are not allowed to use their phones on campus. |
4 . When I was a little girl, I remember that when my dad was repairing something, he would ask me to hold the hammer, so we would have time for a conversation with each other. I never saw my dad drinking or taking a night out. All he did after work was taking care of his family.
I grew up and left home for college and since then, my dad had been calling me every Sunday morning. And when I bought a house several years later, my dad painted it by himself in the fierce summer heat. All he asked was to talk to him, but I was too busy in those days.
Four years ago, my dad visited me. He spent many hours putting together a swing for my daughter. He asked me to have a talk with him, but I had to prepare for a trip that weekend.
One Sunday morning we had a telephone talk as usual. I noticed that my dad had forgotten some things that we discussed lately. I was in a hurry, so our conversation was short. Several hours later that day I received a call. My father was in the hospital. Immediately I bought a plane ticket and on my way I was thinking about all the occasions I missed to have a talk with my dad. By the time I arrived at the hospital, my father had passed away. Now it was he who did not have time for a conversation with me. I realized how little I knew about my dad, his deepest thoughts and his dreams.
After his death I learned much more about him and even more about myself. All he ever wanted was my time. And now he has all my attention every single day.
1. When the author was a little girl, she .| A．was good at repairing things | B．liked playing with the hammer |
| C．often talked with her father | D．learned to take care of her family |
| A．She phoned her father every Sunday morning. |
| B．She received a call from her father every Sunday morning. |
| C．Her father bought her a house. |
| D．She often asked her father to talk with her. |
| A．Because her father was busy putting up a swing for her daughter. |
| B．Because she had got tired of talking with him. |
| C．Because she was busy planning a trip. |
| D．Because her father often forgot what they had once talked about. |
| A．The author found an excuse to forgive herself. |
| B．The author and her father were both busy. |
| C．The author complained about her father’s leave without saying goodbye. |
| D．The author regretted missing the talks with her father. |
5 . In 2012, an iPhone fell into my hands. This smart technology seemed like the entrance to only fun and positive things like chatting with friends and blogging.
However, seven years later, I had become horribly limited to it. Recent reports show that I’m not alone. According to a study, the average American spends five hours a day on smart devices (装置) and about 2.5 of those hours are spent on social, messaging, media and entertainment apps.
It’s hard to explain when the love and joy I felt for my iPhone turned into a dependency. I fell asleep to my phone every night and woke to it each morning. I checked the weather app every morning before I chose how to dress for the day. I used it to help me find my way through a city I should know well enough on my own. I updated my email box every time I picked my phone up.
Just like with any addiction, my phone dependency began to influence my life. While spending time with family, I’d stare into a small screen on my lap instead of being involved in communicating with my loved ones. At work, my productivity levels dropped. And then, my four-year relationship came to an end. Eventually, I was left with years of memories and a mobile phone that couldn’t provide enjoyable company across a dinner table, share in the joys of experiencing a concert or kiss me goodnight before bed.
Now, I move through life with more purpose and intention. I’ve cut back on carelessly giving away my limited time and attention to my phone. Instead, I focus my efforts on being as present as possible. Truly training the mind to stay present is a long and challenging road, but it’s important to start somewhere.
I hope you’ll take a deep look at your own phone habits and reevaluate how important a role you are letting it play in your life. Whether or not you’ve reached a place in your life where your screen time feels problematic, there’s no harm in mindfully giving your current practices some thought.
1. What does the author mean by saying “I’m not alone” underlined in Paragraph 2?| A．He takes his iPhone for company. |
| B．He has many friends around him. |
| C．There’re many Americans like him. |
| D．Blogging brings him great pleasure. |
| A．was quite confused about some apps |
| B．became hopelessly addicted to his iPhone |
| C．was afraid of spending more time on his iPhone |
| D．never dressed himself by checking the weather app |
| A．Why the author’s productivity levels dropped. |
| B．Why the author finally had phone dependency. |
| C．How the author bravely corrected his mistakes. |
| D．How the author’s life was negatively affected. |
| A．Persuade people to live a no-phone life. |
| B．Advise people to use their phones reasonably. |
| C．Inspire people to consider their roles in life again. |
| D．Urge people to devote their spare time to screens. |
6 . Arthur sat at the desk in his room, pencil in hand. He had to write a story for his English class by Friday. “ 1 don’t know what to write about, ’’ he complained to his dog Toby, which was asleep at his feet. Arthur was talkative when speaking to his friends, but he had trouble finding words when he had to write.
By bedtime Arthur had drawn a picture of Toby’s smile. He had drawn a tree with its branches blowing in the strong wind. He had also written a note asking his friend Lee to go to the movies with him on Saturday. But he had not written a single word of his story.
On Wednesday, Mrs. Solomon, Arthurs English teacher, asked the class to turn in the first draft of their stories. His heart sinking, Arthur turned in the only work he had—the page with his name, the drawings and the note.
Arthur wasn’t surprised when Mrs. Solomon asked him to stay after class the next day. But he was surprised at what she said to him: “ This was an attractive story, Arthur. The dog, the movie, and the tree in the wind—I can’t wait to find out how they all fit together. “
“ That isn’t my story, Mrs. Solomon, “ Arthur admitted. “ I haven’t been able to think of one yet. “
“ Oh, I think you have the seeds of a story there, ’’ Mrs. Solomon replied/4 Look at your note and the pictures and see if a story occurs to you.
That night Arthur sat at his desk, and this was what he wrote: “ One Saturday Mike went downstairs to meet his friend Julio at the cinema. It looked as if it might rain, so Mike carried his umbrella. Suddenly a big storm blew in, bending the trees. The sound of the wind sounded like the barks of Mike’s clog Toby. Toby really hated storms and barked whenever he wanted to be let inside. Then Mike realized that it wasn’t the sound of the wind. Toby was running after him down the busy street, barking. The sound was filled with blame. Mike felt guilty because he had left Toby outside. He turned and headed home with Toby running beside him. Mike let Toby into the house just as the rain started to pour down. “
Arthur completed a story in the end. The last thing he did was write his name proudly at the top of the page.
1. Why did Arthur only turn in the page with his name, the drawings and the note at first?| A．Because he had no time to fit them together. |
| B．Because he had difficulty in writing a story. |
| C．Because he wasn’t willing to do his homework. |
| D．Because he wanted to show his talent for drawing. |
| A．Toby is a lovely dog. |
| B．The small tree will grow into a big one. |
| C．His friend Lee can give him a lot of support. |
| D．He can develop his story based on the first draft. |
| A．Arthur is a shy and quiet student. |
| B．Arthur isn’t very satisfied with his story. |
| C．There will be a storm on Saturday. |
| D．Encouragement is important in teaching. |
7 . Travel is one of the most exciting experiences a human being can have. Imagine how Italian traveler Marco Polo must have felt when he found himself on Chinese soil, seeing a way of life quite different from anything he’d seen before.
And how marvelous must it have been to listen to Zhang Qian when he returned to China from his journey through Central Asia and West Asia? His brain must have been packed with everything he’d seen and heard, leading to the founding of the Silk Road.
Some people have traveled all over the world, and travel is a way of life to them. They perhaps know what to expect before they travel. That’s why the best travel is when it’s for the first time. Imagine a person who has always wanted to travel to the United States. Of course, they’ve probably seen the Statue of Liberty a thousand times on TV, and the White House, and all the other famous sights. But none of that would compare to the thrill of looking out of the cabin window as the plane lands, watching the cities and streets of the real America come into view.
Although travel is often just for recreation, it’s also educational. We may not know that we are getting an education, but we still are.
We’re learning every day: new words in a new language, new people, and new ways of life. But this learning takes place in the school of the world, not the classroom. One of the lessons we learn is undoubtedly a moral one. As we get to know foreign places, we come to understand that there are many different ways to live, and that the way we live isn’t necessarily the best way. The British politician Benjamin Disraeli summed this up well when he said, “Travel teaches toleration.”
1. The author uses Marco Polo and Zhang Qian as examples to .| A．explain how the Silk Road was founded |
| B．present travel as an amazing experience |
| C．show how the way people travel has changed |
| D．describe important cultural exchanges in history |
| A．one’s first trip is usually the most challenging |
| B．no other trip is better than one’s first trip |
| C．there is always much to learn on one’s first trip |
| D．people usually make better preparations for their first trip |
| A．learning | B．knowledge |
| C．fun | D．risk |
| A．traveling should be included in formal education |
| B．traveling improves people’s confidence in their lifestyle |
| C．a foreign journey may raise people’s cultural understanding |
| D．there is more to learn from adventures than being in classroom |
8 . “Have a nice day!”may be a pleasant gesture or a meaningless expression. When my friend Maxie says “Have a nice day” with a smile, I know she sincerely cares about what happens to me. I feel loved and secure since another person cares about me and wishes me well.
“Have a nice day. Next!”This version of expression is spoken by a salesgirl at the supermarket who is rushing me and my groceries out the door. The words come out in the same tone(腔调)with a fixed procedure. They are spoken at me, not to me. Obviously, the concern for my day and everyone else’s is the management’s attempt to increase the business.
The expression is one of those behaviors that help people get along with each other. Sometimes it indicates the end of a meeting. As soon as you hear it, you know the meeting is at an end. Sometimes the expression serves us when we don’t know what to say.“Oh, you just had a tooth out? I’m terribly sorry, but have a nice day.”
The expression can be pleasant. If a stranger says “Have a nice day” to you, you may find it heart-warming because someone you don’t know has tried to be nice to you.
Although the use of the expression is an insincere, meaningless social custom at times, there is nothing wrong with the sentence except that it is a little uninteresting. The salesgirl, the waitress, the teacher, and all the countless others who speak it without thinking may not really care about my day. But in a strange and comfortable way, it’s nice to know they care enough to pretend they care when they really don’t care all that much. While the expression may not often be sincere, it is always spoken. The point is that people say it all the time when they like.
1. How does the author understand Maxie’s words?| A．Maxie shows her anxiety to the author. |
| B．Maxie really wishes the author a good day. |
| C．Maxie encourages the author to stay happy. |
| D．Maxie really worries about the author’s security. |
| A．The salesgirl is polite. | B．The salesgirl is bored. |
| C．The salesgirl cares about me. | D．The salesgirl says the words as a routine. |
| A．try to be polite to you | B．express respect to you |
| C．give his blessing to you | D．share his pleasure with you |
| A．Have a Nice Day—a Social Custom |
| B．Have a Nice Day—a Pleasant Gesture |
| C．Have a Nice Day—a Heart-warming Greeting |
| D．Have a Nice Day—a Polite Ending of a Conversation |
For example, snowmen were a phenomenon in the Middle Ages, built with great skill and thought. At a time of limited means of expression, snow was like free art supplies dropped from the sky. It was a popular activity for couples to leisurely walk through town to view the temporary works of chilly art. Some were created by famous artists, including a 19-year-old Michelangelo, who in 1494 was appointed by the ruler of Florence, Italy, to build a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard.
The Miracle of 1511 took place during six freezing works called the Winter of Death. The city of Brussels was covered in snowmen—an impressive scene that told stories on every street corner. Some were political in nature, criticizing the church and government. Some were a reflection of people’s imagination. For the people of Brussels, this was a defining moment of defining freedom. At least until spring arrived, by which time they were dealing with damaging floods.
If you fear the heyday of the snowman has passed, don’t worry: I’ve learned that some explosive snowman history is still being made today. Every year since 1818, the people of Zurich, Switzerland, celebrate the beginning of spring by blowing up a snowman. On the third Monday of April, the holiday Sechselauten is kicked off when a cotton snowman called the Boogg is stuffed with explosive and paraded through town by bakers and other tradesmen who throw bread to the crowds. The parade ends with the Boogg being placed on a 40-foot pile of firewood. After the bells of the Church of St. Peter have rung six times, representing the passing of winter, the pile is lit. When the snowman explodes, winter is considered officially over—the quicker it is burnt down, the longer summer is said to be.
1. According to the passage, why did snowmen become a phenomenon in the Middle Ages?
| A．People thought of snow as holy art supplies. |
| B．People longed to see masterpieces of snow. |
| C．Building snowmen was a way for people to express themselves. |
| D．Building snowmen helped people develop their skill and thought. |
| A．snowmen were made mainly by artists |
| B．snowmen enjoyed great popularity |
| C．snowmen were politically criticized |
| D．snowmen caused damaging floods |
| A．the start of the parade |
| B．the coming of a longer summer |
| C．the passing of the winter |
| D．the success of tradesmen |
| A．They were appreciated in history |
| B．They have lost their value |
| C．They were related to movies |
| D．They vary in shape and size |
10 . Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to older buildings in a historic area of a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons—for example, economic (经济的) reasons—why they should be preserved. So, let us assume that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?
In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own home town of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate (影响) its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.
It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt (破坏) the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative(保守的)and do not like change.
Although we have to respect people’s feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward . If we always reproduced what was there before, we would all still be living in caves. Thus, I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different , even though that might be the more risky choice.
1. What does the author say about historical buildings in the first paragraph?| A．Some of them are not attractive. |
| B．Most of them ate too expensive to preserve. |
| C．They are more pleasing than modern buildings. |
| D．They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area. |
| A．We should reproduce the same old buildings. |
| B．Buildings should not dominate their surroundings. |
| C．Some old buildings have spoilt the area they are in. |
| D．No one understands why people speak against new buildings. |
| A．destroy old buildings |
| B．put things in a different place |
| C．respect people’s feelings for historical buildings |
| D．choose new architectural styles |
| A．To explain why people dislike change. |
| B．To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas. |
| C．To warn that we could end up living in caves. |
| D．To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings. |
