1 . The Price of a Dream
I grew up poor. We had little money, but plenty of love and attention. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, they could still afford a dream. My dream was athletics.
By the time I was sixteen, I was good at baseball and football. My high school coach was Ollie Jarvis. He not only believed in me, but taught me the difference between having a dream and showing conviction (信念).
One summer a friend recommended me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket — cash for dates with girls, certainly, money for a new bike and new clothes, and the start of savings for a house for my mother.
Then I realized I would have to give up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell Coach Jarvis I wouldn’t be playing. I was afraid of this, but my mother said, “If you make your bed, you have to lie in it.”
When I told Coach Jarvis, he was as mad as I expected him to be. “Your playing days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them,” he said.
I stood before him with my head hanging, trying to think of the words that would explain to him why I dream of buying my mom a house.
“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” he demanded.
“Three point twenty-five an hour,” I replied.
“Well,” he asked, “is $3. 25 an hour the price of a dream?”
That question exposed the difference between wanting something right now and having a goal. I devoted myself to sports that summer, and within the year I was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play rookie-league ball, and offered a $20, 000 contract. I signed with the Denver Broncos in 1984 for $1.7 million, and bought my mother my dream house.
1. Why was the writer grateful to Coach Jarvis?A.Because Coach Jarvis made him set a goal. |
B.Because Coach Jarvis supplied him with new clothes. |
C.Because Coach Jarvis gave him financial support. |
D.Because Coach Jarvis helped him show conviction. |
A.Balance summer baseball and the work schedule. |
B.Refuse the job offer for summer baseball. |
C.Give up summer baseball for the job. |
D.Ask his coach Jarvis for advice. |
A.You must eat the bitter fruit of your own making. |
B.Believe in yourself, but above all be patient. |
C.You must rely on yourself first, then others. |
D.A good beginning makes a good ending. |
A.He failed to buy his mother a house. |
B.He succeeded as a sportsman. |
C.He became a successful businessman. |
D.He made some money in the summer job. |
2 . With the cold weather drawing nearer, few people will choose swimming as a daily or usual activity.
Good for your brain.
Swimming is one of the best activities you can do all year round, which benefits your body and your mind. Swimming has been found to increase blood flow to the brain, which leads to more oxygen.
Work your muscles.
Every time you swim, it is like doing a mini-resistance workout. Each kicks and pull works your muscles more than you could imagine, especially your arms, shoulders and gluteus — the muscles that are inactive all day when you’re sitting at your desk.
Lift your spirits.
While swimming is an individual sport, it is also very social. You can meet people from all walks of life when swimming. Have a chat in the lap pool, join a swimming club or get involved in social water sports to get to know people in your community. Besides, the great thing about swimming is that you can do it — rain or shine. Although your backyard pool, the river or beach cools down over winter, most inside swimming pools run heated pools year round, so you’ve got no excuse to stop swimming.
A.Benefit your body. |
B.Meet new people. |
C.These chemicals can control your thought and action. |
D.Swimming also works your abs (腹肌) and will reduce your waist line. |
E.Exercise gives off chemicals in your body called endorphins (内啡肽). |
F.And that means you’re experiencing better memory and sharp mind. |
G.However, swimming in winter is of great benefit in cold days. |
3 . I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (给贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. So we both got tired of each other.
War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened,I saw my shoes flying at me.I jumped to my feet and started yelling (叫喊). She yelled back louder.
The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬行) under her covers (被子), sobbing (哭啼). Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart. Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Kate had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression was such disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”
Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the meaning of living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.
1. What made Kate so angry one evening?A.She couldn’t find her books. |
B.She heard the author shouting loud. |
C.She got the news that her grandma was ill |
D.She saw the author’s shoes beneath her bed. |
A.she was scared by Kate’s anger | B.she hated herself for being so messy |
C.she was asked by Kate to do so | D.she wanted to show her care |
A.By showing differences. | B.By analyzing causes. |
C.By describing a process. | D.By following time order. |
A.My Friend Kate | B.Hard Work Pays Off |
C.Learning to be Roommates | D.How to be Organized |
4 . The second Sunday in May is a volunteer day in my neighborhood. Last year, my neighbors and I chose to
The day before we went to the
We arrived
Then, it was time to start making
Later, my neighbours and I told the children some funny stories to make them laugh
A.volunteer | B.study | C.live | D.play |
A.say | B.speak | C.tell | D.ask |
A.school | B.farm | C.park | D.hospital |
A.hope | B.know | C.find | D.believe |
A.nurses | B.doctors | C.neighbors | D.teachers |
A.from | B.about | C.for | D.at |
A.welcoming | B.helping | C.teaching | D.saving |
A.receive | B.offer | C.accept | D.refuse |
A.toys | B.dresses | C.cards | D.clothes |
A.talked | B.lived | C.cooked | D.quarreled |
A.and | B.so | C.or | D.but |
A.hated | B.chose | C.disliked | D.forgot |
A.sadly | B.angrily | C.nervously | D.happily |
A.him | B.us | C.her | D.them |
A.ill | B.healthy | C.strong | D.rich |
5 . British Tea Culture
Tea was first introduced to Great Britain from China in the 1600s and in the centuries since the British tea culture has been going strong.
British-style Tea
For everyday tea, the British simply boil water and pour the water over a tea bag in a cup. After the tea brews for a few minutes, the tea bag is removed. Fresh milk and sugar are usually added. Biscuits or cake may be eaten with tea.
The British prefer various types of black tea. Brands like Twinings, Tetley, and Lipton are popular in the world tea market.
Formal Tea
For a formal tea, tea sets made of fine bone china or silver are used. The set includes a teapot, cups and saucers, a creamer for holding milk, and a sugar bowl. All are cried on a tray. All the pieces of a proper English tea set have a matching pattern.
Elevenses
“Elevenses” refers to a snack consisting of tea or coffee and a finger food like biscuits or cake. It is taken mid-morning so the name refers to the time of day (11:00 am).
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea is a light meal served with tea in the late afternoon. It began among wealthy women in the 1840s, but it soon spread to hotels, tea rooms, and tea gardens across Great Britain. The food served typically includes small sandwiches and sweets. A formal afternoon tea has fancy desserts presented on tiered stands.
1. If you want to enjoy tea with biscuits or cake, you should chooseA.Formal Tea and Elevenses. |
B.Elevenses and Afternoon Tea. |
C.British-style Tea and Elevenses. |
D.British-style Tea and Formal Tea. |
A.In the 1600s. | B.In the 1700s. |
C.In the 1840s. | D.In the 1940s. |
A.Sports. | B.Culture. | C.Science. | D.Travel. |
6 . William is a scientist. He makes robots to help people with some housework. Arnold is William’s helper, who cleans William’s laboratory. Arnold only works in the afternoon, from 1:00 to 4: 30. William used to teach Arnold how to control a robot, but Arnold never listened.
The day before Mother’s Day, William drove to the town with his friend to buy a present for his mother. “When I come back,” he said to Arnold. “I want to see the laboratory clean. Goodbye and work hard!”
Arnold cleaned the windows, tidied the tables, and swept the floor. “Now I will ask a robot toWash thefloorforme,” Arnold thought. Then he went to arobot, pressed a button (按钮) and said, “Robot, wash the floor.”The robot got a bucket of water. Arnold was happy to see that. But Suddenly the robot poured (倾倒) the water all over the for. Then it began to move around in the water.
“Stop,” shouted Arnold, but the robot didn’t stop. Arnold pressed another button, but the robot moved even faster. Soon the laboratory was in a mess. Arnold was quite nervous。
Just then, the door opened. It was William. Looking at the water on the floor, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He ran to the robot and pressed some buttons. It stopped.
“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you carefully before,” Arnold said.
“Better late than never,” William said. “Let me teach you how to control a robot now.”
1. What is William according to the text?A.A scientist | B.A cleaner |
C.A helper | D.A teacher |
A.Tidy the tables | B.Wash the floor |
C.Sweep the yard | D.Clean the windows |
A.The door | B.The car |
C.The water | D.The robot |
7 . According to the World Food Program, one third of the food of the world is lost or wasted. It’s up to some 1.3 billion tons every year, worth about $1 trillion. Moreover, a report in 2021 Sugests that 8 to10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (排放) are associated with wasting food.
“For our parents and the older generations,‘clearing your plate’ is more about saving some food for a rainy day.”Liu Jichen, founder and CEO of Clear Plate, an anti-food wasting program, told us.
The idea for Clear Plate came to Liu after one dinner at a restaurant in late 2017. The customers who finished all the food they’d ordered would be given a card, and then they could exchange their cards for rewards. “Yet it was limited to one restaurant’s actions, so I thought, why not try it on a larger scale (规模)? And how?” Liu wondered. And then he teamed up with some of his friends,founded a startup and developed the Clear Plate applet.
“The Clear Plate team is trying to deal with the issue (问题) of food waste. After a meal, users of WeChat take photos of their clean plates, post these on WeChat, collect points, and then exchange their points for gifts or charity donations,” Liu explained.
Starting in 2018, Clear Plate has now more than 4.3 million users with about 45 million participations in anti-food wasting actions, reducing food waste by 1,700 tons and carbon emissions by 6,600 tons. Liu’s determination represents a small change of the Chinese lifestyle and more people are turning toward a healthier, greener and more low-carbon lifestyle.
1. How much food of the world is wasted every year according to the World Food Program?A.About 1 billion tons. | B.About 1.3 billion tons. |
C.About 8 billion tons. | D.About 10 billion tons. |
A.A plate. | B.A point. | C.A photo. | D.A card. |
A.In 2016. | B.In 2017. | C.In 2018. | D.In 2021. |
A.The program Clear Plate. |
B.The World Food Program. |
C.The world food wasting. |
D.An introduction to WeChat. |
8 . Asia,the largest continent on Earth,is home to more than half of the world’s population. With so many different cultures and languages, each country is worth a lifetime to travel around. Here are some top countries for you to have an unforgettable travel experience .
China
China owns one of the world’s oldest civilizations(文明). Wherever you go, you can easily recognize many amazing historical and cultural landmarks. For example, the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Army in Xi’an and the Forbidden City in Beijing attract many visitors all over the world. However,other people come to enjoy China’s beautiful scenery that includes high mountains and the Gobi Desert. As the most populous(人口多的)nation on Earth, China is also home to many modern cities.
India
Home to one of the world’s richest and oldest civilizations, India has many different cultures, religions, peoples and traditions. With the Himalayas lying in the north, jungle and beaches can be found in the rest of the country. From temples to food and history to wildlife, the beautiful country has something for everyone.
Thailand
Thailand is a very popular tourist attraction. Its golden sands and beaches attract lots of people every year. Many also come to party in its beachside towns, visit some beautiful and peaceful islands such as Ko Tao, or enjoy the attractive scenery at Krabi.
Japan
Although it consists of almost 7,000 islands, most of Japan’s main sights and tourist attractions can be found on the four largest of them. Lying to the east of Asia, the island nation is an attractive place as a mixture of traditional palaces and modern buildings Covered in mountains and forests, the country is home to some delightful nature and scenery.
1. Which one is the most populous country on Earth?A.China | B.Japan | C.India | D.Thailand |
A.India and China | B.Japan and China |
C.China and Thailand | D.India and Thailand |
A.Sports | B.Music | C.Science | D.Travel |
1.中国茶文化简介;
2.饮茶的好处;
3.邀请他来中国体验茶文化。
注意:
1.词数80左右;
2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;
3.开头和结尾已给出,不计入总词数。
Dear Jack,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
10 . Attractions for Kids with Dinosaur Fever
While there are plenty of movies and books that can teach your little one all about dinosaurs, the following children’s attractions will allow them to come face-to-face with their favorite dinosaurs and learn in an interactive, fun environment.
1. Dinosaurs Alive at Cedar Point
Sandusky, OH
See the “age of dinosaurs” come to life with interactive exhibits based on real fossil evidence. At the Dinosaurs Alive section of Cedar Point park, visitors can walk among more than 50 life-sized dinosaurs which move and roar. See these gigantic lizards (蜥蜴) up close and learn more about the most fearsome period of the earth’s history.
2. The Chicago Children’s Museum
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Children’s Museum is filled with plenty of activities for kids of all ages, but one of the coolest has to be the Dinosaur Exhibition. At this exhibit, children can spend time digging for dinosaur bones at an excavation (挖掘) site, looking at dinosaur fossils, and learning what life is like for real archaeologists (考古学家).
3. Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Pittsburgh, PA
In addition to plenty of exhibits about wildlife, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History has one of the finest dinosaur fossil collections in the world. Visitors can see experts work with real dinosaur fossils in the PaleoLab. Make sure to snap a photo in front of Dippy, the scarf-loving dinosaur guarding the front of the museum!
4. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
From the dinosaurs exploding out of the side of the building to the fossils within, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is filled with fun things to do. Kids can touch a real T-rex bone and see reconstructed dinosaur skeletons up close.
1. Who are the attractions mainly intended for?A.Children. | B.Parents. | C.Archaeologists. | D.Volunteers. |
A.Dinosaurs Alive at Cedar Point. | B.The Chicago Children’s Museum. |
C.Carnegie Museum of Natural History. | D.The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. |
A.Touch a real T- rex bone. | B.Take a photo in front of Dippy. |
C.See reconstructed dinosaur skeletons. | D.See experts work with fake dinosaur fossils. |