1 . Brian was a funny student. He loved watching comedies(喜剧) best and hoped to become a comedy actor one day.

When he heard about the talent show to be held at this school, Brian decided to take part. He had never acted on stage before, and he was very excited. But some students laughed at him. “You are not funny but silly,” Ken, one of his classmates, said to his face. “No one will like what you do,” another boy also said to him, loudly.

Brian couldn’t understand why they were so unkind to him. For a moment, he thought about giving up the show. But he remembered how much his friends liked his jokes, and also his teachers said he was very funny. So he decided to prepare for the show.

Brian did a great job at the talent show. Everyone loved his performance, and he won the first prize! His teachers and friends were proud of him. Even so, Ken told Brian that he was not funny, and that he would never be successful. Brian didn’t understand why Ken said so, but he realized that it had nothing to do with him. He confidently continued to work towards his goal.

As the years went on, Brian met more people like Ken. “You’ll do a terrible job,” they said to him. Luckily, most people encouraged him and some helped him to become even funnier. He got a lot of opportunities to perform in movies. He was even invited to appear on television. His fans thanked him because his comedies made them feel good when they were unhappy.

Now Brian is a big comedy star! He is doing what he loves best. He never feels stressed like those unkind people, and he laughs all day long!

1. Brian decided to prepare for the show because ________.

A．he was invited by a TV station	B．he wasn’t busy acting in movies
C．Ken was expecting his performance	D．his friends liked his jokes

2. After winning the first prize, Brian ________.

A．began to understand Ken	B．continued to work towards his goal
C．became a teacher of acting	D．encouraged others to join him

3. Brian’s fans thanked him because his comedies brought them ________.

A．happiness	B．success
C．luck	D．pride

2 . My 1l-year-old daughter has been awarded an academic scholarship to a private school. It’s only a small discount, but the scholarship means she’ll skip the waiting list—provided my husband and I can cover $20,000 a year. Should we pay the private school fees,or choose free education instead?

I always assumed my children would go to a private school, like I did. Not because my family is wealthy, but because I believe that the best education is private. It took years for me to make peace with the fact that my two children attended our local public primary school. They’ll go to a private high school, I told myself. Yet here we are. My eldest is now in her last year of primary school,and my husband and I will struggle to afford private school. If so, I could increase my work hours. My law degree was supposed to be my ticket to a good job and a secure income, but that’s not quite how it turned out.

During many sleepless nights, I felt troubled by the decision. Although I want the best for my daughter, I have my own dreams too. I can’t sacrifice(牺牲) everything for my precious girl. I explain that I want to be a positive role model for my daughter, and an unhappy parent is a terrible strain on a family. I point out that not even the privilege(特殊待遇) of private school will protect my children from disappointment or struggle. And finally, it’s decided. My daughter is going to the public school behind our home. She couldn’t be more pleased.

It’s taken me a little longer, but now I’m satisfied. More than my fancy private school education, it’s my family that shaped me. With high school now 25 years in the past, I can no longer remember the mathematical problems and Shakespearean quotes I once knew so perfectly. The lessons from my childhood home, however, have proved impossible to forget.

1. From the passage we know that ________.

A．the scholarship her daughter won could cover most of her school fees

B．her two children attended their local private primary school

C．the writer had a good job and a secure income

D．it took a long time for her to make the final decision

2. Why did the writer want her daughter to go to a private school at first?

A．Because her daughter earned an academic scholarship.

B．Because she wanted her daughter to receive the best education.

C．Because she wanted her daughter to skip the waiting list.

D．Because her daughter’s potential was wasted at the public primary school.

3. The underlined word “strain” in Paragraph 3 refers to ________.

A．anger	B．comfort
C．burden	D．relief

4. What does the passage indicate?

A．Parents should make every sacrifice for their children.

B．Finance should be taken into account when it comes to education.

C．Private school education is not as good as public school education.

D．Rather than school education, family influences a person most.

3 . 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 great 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 writer 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

2. The underlined word in paragraph 4 probably means ________.

A．learning	B．knowledge
C．fun	D．risk

3. According to the last two paragraphs, the writer believes that ________.

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 classrooms

4 . OPENINGS AND PREVIEWS

Animals Out of Paper

Yolo！Productions and the Great Griffon present the play by Rajiv Joseph, in which an origami(折纸术) artist invites a teenage talent and his teacher into her studio. Merri Milwe directs. In previews. Opens Feb. 12. (West Park Presbyterian Church, 165 W. 86th St. 212-868-4444.)

The Audience

Helen Mirren stars in the play by Peter Morgan, about Queen Elizabeth II of the UK and her private meetings with twelve Prime Ministers in the course of sixty years. Stephen Daldry directs. Also starring Dylan Baker and Judith Ivey. Previews begin Feb. 14.(Schoenfeld, 236 W. 45th St. 212-239-6200.)

Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote this musical about Alexander Hamilton, in which the birth of America is presented as an immigrant story. Thomas Kail directs. In previews. Opens Feb. 17.(Public, 425 Lafayette St. 212-967-7555.)

On the Twentieth Century

Kristin Chenoweth and Peter Gallagher star in the musical comedy by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, about a Broadway producer who tries to win a movie star’s love during a cross-country train journey. Scott Ellis directs, for Roundabout Theatre Company. Previews begin Feb. 12.(American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St. 212-719-1300.)

1. What is the play by Rajiv Joseph probably about?

A．A type of art.	B．A teenager’s studio.
C．A great teacher.	D．A group of animals.

2. Who is the director of The Audience?

A．Helen Mirren.	B．Peter Morgan.
C．Dylan Baker.	D．Stephen Daldry.

3. Which play will you go to if you are interested in American history?

A．Animals Out of Paper.	B．The Audience.
C．Hamilton.	D．On the Twentieth Century.

5 . Welcome to the Electronic Village to explore new ways of language teaching and learning.

Electronic Village Program (Thursday, June 18, 2015)
Nearpod ❖9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ❖Room 501 Nearpod is a software program that creates a rich context（语境）for students to learn vocabulary. The presenter will show how to use it.	TEO ❖ 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ❖Room 502 Our students come from different backgrounds but have the same desire to learn on-line. The presenter will use examples from his first on-line class to explain how any teacher can begin teaching on-line with TEO.
Kahoot ❖10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ❖ Room 601 Kahoot software can be used to create grammar tests which can be graded on a network. It can provide students with instant feedback（反馈）, including reports about their strengths and weaknesses.	Prezi ❖3:30 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. ❖Room 602 Uses of Prezi in listening and speaking courses draw students' attention to speaking more fluently. The presenter will show how students can use Prezi to confidently present on a variety of topics, including introducing family, friends, and hobbies.

1. Nearpod can be used to_____.

A．offer grammar tests	B．teach listening on-line
C．help vocabulary learning	D．gain fluency in speaking

2. If you want to improve your speaking skills, you can go to____________.

A．Room 501	B．Room 502
C．Room 601	D．Room 602

3. Which of the following can assess your grammar learning?

A．Nearpod.	B．Kahoot.
C．TEO.	D．Prezi.

4. A teacher who wants to learn on-line teaching is expected to arrive by ______.

A．9:00 a.m.	B．10:30 a.m.
C．2:00 p.m.	D．3:30 p.m.

6 . These days having a best friend seems so important to girls. However I have learned that having one best friend is not the way to go. It’s so much better to have many great friends.

As I was coming into Middle School, I was really excited because my friend Jennifer was going to be in the same Middle School! At first things were great, she introduced me to her friend Amy and we had lots of fun together. Then things started to change. Jennifer was very controlling: I couldn’t make new friends, and pretty soon being Jennifer’s friend was a struggle.

Jennifer wanted to be the “leader” of our little group. Amy and I were never partners with each other in class projects or gym; it was always, “Who gets the privilege (特权)of being Jennifer’s partner.” Amy and I both wanted to be Jennifer’s number one.

I always waited for Jennifer and Amy after classes. They chatted by Jennifer’s desk as Jennifer packed her books up and I waited by the door. Sometimes when they left, they’d walk right past me. No “Thanks for waiting.” No “Sorry we took so long.” It was as if they couldn’t even see me.

After months of living through school this way, I had really changed. I was moody, depressed, lonely. I spent lots of days trying not to cry, I felt so left out.

Finally, near the very end of the school year, I was so incredibly sick of having to battle for friendship. I stopped sitting with Jennifer at lunch and stopped waiting for her after class.

It was tough at first, but now, I have tons of friends. We have fun and happy times together and I love them all to bits. It amazes me how easy our friendship is. There’s no struggling to be on top. I wish Jennifer could understand. Maybe one day she’ll look back at what happened and she'll change, but even though I lost a friend, I am a happier person.

1. What is the purpose of the writer writing this passage?

A．To describe her school life

B．To talk about the way Jennifer treated her friends

C．To advise girls to make many friends instead of one

D．To show her regret towards losing a friend.

2. What does the sentence Things started to change(paragraph 2) refer to?

A．The writer lost interest in study.

B．Being Jennifer’s friend became a struggle.

C．Lessons became more and more difficult.

D．The writer gave up the friendship with Jennifer.

3. What can be implied from the last paragraph?

A．All of the writer’s new friends are equal.

B．The writer regretted a lot about losing a friend.

C．Jennifer has changed herself.

D．The school life is always difficult for the writer.

7 .

Class 501 Shy children need our help to get over their fears. In this class, we’ll cover the basics — the origins of shyness, strategies（策略）for getting over the kind of shyness your child experiences, social skills you can teach in your home, and tips for working with teachers to help your child perform well at school.
Where	Karman Executive Center, Bellevue, Washington
When	From 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, on Fridays in May
Fee	$75.00
Class 502 This is a special class for children designed to teach communication skills all of us need, but shy people are afraid to use. We’ll cover everything from how to start conversations with strangers to ways of keeping you calm when you do. You’ll learn what makes some people more popular than others and what you can do to feel more like you fit it.
Where	Karman Executive Center, Bellevue, Washington
When	From 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, on Tuesdays in May
Fee	$68.00
Class 503 While a person’s IQ is thought to be relatively fixed, our EQ is believed to develop over the course of a lifetime. Why not give your child a head start? Explore what EQ is all about. We’ll review five of the basic qualities which are believed to make up EQ. We’ll discuss ways to identify（确认）your child’s emotional strengths and weaknesses and what you can do to improve their emotional development.
Where	Karman Executive Center, Bellevue, Washington
When	From 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, on Wednesday, May 8th
Fee	$59.00
Class 504 Do you find yourself searching for something to say when you meet someone new in your work? Then why not join us in learning the secret of successful conversation? In this fun-filled evening, we will simplify and practise the art of conversation to make yourself and others at home.
Where	North Campus, Bellevue, Washington
When	From 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, on Thursday, May 23rd
Fee	$49.00

1. The class that can help children to communicate with strangers in public costs ________.

A．$75.00	B．$68.00
C．$59.00	D．$49.00

2. Which classes are designed（设计） for parents who want to help their children?

A．Class 501 and Class 502.	B．Class 502 and Class 503.
C．Class 501 and Class 503.	D．Class 503 and Class 504.

3. According to the information above, we can learn that ________.

A．the classes above are given on weekdays in May

B．all the classes are given in the same teaching building

C．none of the classes may help improve one’s social skills in daily life

D．adults can improve their children’s emotional development in Class 504

8 . You can never be too sure these days in the United States of your neighbors or even your customers! Try to keep a low profile (姿态) in your neighborhood: Don’t announce to everyone that you are running a home business with thousands of dollars worth of equipment. As much as possible, do not invite clients (客户) or visitors to your home. In fact, I know of some home­based entrepreneurs (企业家) who would rather meet their clients in a neutral ground, e.g. the client’s office or even Starbucks.
There are other ways to keep burglars away from your house.
•Keep lights on around your house in the evenings. Light is a natural fright for burglars.
•Invest in a security alarm, particularly if your house is located at a remote spot. Security systems can often bring down the cost of your homeowner’s premium (保险费).
•Make sure that all windows and doors are locked and the security alarm turned on before you sleep at night or go out of the house. Avoid keeping house keys in obvious places, such as under the lamp or on top of the doorframe.
•Adding an additional lock will provide extra security when you are home. The dead­lock, sometimes called an “exit only deadbolt”is a deadbolt that does not have an external (外部的) key. It is clearly visible on the door from the outside, but cannot be broken into without destroying the door, frame or lock itself. While this security won’t help directly when you aren’t home, the visibility may discourage an____ from trying the door.
•Your door itself should be made of strong materials, such as one­inch thick solid hardwood or heavy metal.
1. The advice given by the writer in the passage focuses on ________.

A．how to make your house safe from burglars

B．what to do when your house is broken into

C．how to improve social security in the United States

D．how to run a home business

2. Some home­based entrepreneurs do not invite clients to their home ________.

A．to enjoy convenience outside their home

B．for the safety of their property

C．not to let others know about their business

D．in order to avoid being seen by burglars

3. All the following are part of the writer’s advice except that the homeowner ________.

A．buy a security alarm and turn it on in the evening

B．fix an extra lock on the door from inside

C．have the doors made of solid hardwood or heavy metal

D．keep lights on in all rooms to threaten burglars

4. What does the underlined word “intruder” most probably mean in the passage?

A．Someone who is invited for a visit.

B．Someone who illegally enters the home.

C．Someone who pays regular visits to the home.

D．Someone who tries to destroy the lock.

9 . For the most part, you are probably only exposed to the music that is played on your favorite radio stations and TV shows, music Web sites, or the music that your friends and family members enjoy. While you probably know a lot about your favorite type of music, it can be a rewarding experience to enlarge your horizons (眼界), discovering artists and types of music that you’re not familiar with. Who knows, you might discover you like certain types of music you never even considered.

Have you ever wondered about the history and influences of your favorite types of music? For example, did you know that rock ’n’ roll originated (起源) from the blues, and that the blues began as a form of musical expression for African Americans during slavery (奴隶制度)? Did you know that most hip-hop is heavily influenced by early rhythm blues and jazz?

There are many fun ways to learn about different musical styles and their historical roots. For example, if you like hip-hop, listen to some of your favorite CDs and take note of the samples the performers used to create the songs. There is a possibility that the artist used parts of older songs to create the music. You can go to the library or online to learn more about the artists and listen to more of their music by checking out CDs from the library or downloading songs online for a small fee.

You can learn so much about culture and history just by paying attention to different types of music and what is being expressed in the songs. There are so many different styles of music to learn about, and you owe it to yourself to make an effort to listen to and learn about them.

1. The main topic of this passage is _______.

A．creating music

B．performing music

C．enjoying your favorite music

D．learning about music

2. What music did African Americans use to express their feelings of being slaves?

A．Rock ’n’ roll.	B．The blues.
C．Hip-hop.	D．Jazz.

3. How can you learn about culture and history through music?

A．By writing down the names of the music.

B．By creating music from older songs yourself.

C．By caring about what is being expressed in music.

D．By keeping a record of fees after downloading songs online.

4. By saying the underlined sentence in the last paragraph, the author probably means that _______.

A．you should try harder to learn about music

B．you should return something to music

C．you should borrow music CDs from others

D．you should buy music CDs yourself

10 . A new collection of photos brings an unsuccessful   Antarctic voyage back to life.

Frank Hurley's   pictures would   be outstanding—undoubtedly first­rate photo­journalism—if they had been made last week.In fact，they were shot from 1914 through 1916, most of them after a disastrous shipwreck(海难), by a cameraman who had no reasonable expectation of survival.Many of the images were stored in an ice chest, under freezing water, in the damaged wooden ship.

The ship was the Endurance, a small, tight, Norwegian­built three­master that was intended to take Sir Ernest Shackleton and a small crew of seamen and scientists, 27 men in all，to the southernmost shore of Antarctica's Weddell Sea.From that point Shackleton wanted to force a passage by dog sled (雪橇) across the continent.The journey was intended to achieve more than what Captain Robert Falcon Scott had done.Captain Scott had reached the South Pole early in 1912 but had died with his four companions on the march back.

As writer Caroline Alexander makes clear in her forceful and well­researched story The Endurance, adventuring was even then a thoroughly commercial effort.Scott's last journey，completed as he lay in a tent dying of cold and hunger, caught the world's imagination, and a film made in his honor drew crowds.Shackleton, a onetime British merchant­navy officer who had got to within 100 miles of the South Pole in 1908, started a business before his 1914 voyage to make money from movie and still photography.Frank Hurley, a confident and gifted Australian photographer who knew the Antarctic，was hired to make the images, most of which have never before been published.

1. What do we know about the photos taken by Hurley?

A．They were made last week.

B．They showed undersea sceneries.

C．They were found by a cameraman.

D．They recorded a disastrous adventure.

2. Who reached the South Pole first according to the text?

A．Frank Hurley.

B．Ernest Shackleton.

C．Robert Falcon Scott.

D．Caroline Alexander.

3. What does Alexander think was the purpose of the 1914 voyage?

A．Artistic creation.	B．Scientific research.
C．Money making.	D．Treasure hunting.