1 . An elephant was standing and picking leaves from a tree. A small fly came, flying and buzzing near his ear. The elephant waved it away with his long ears. Then the fly came again and the elephant waved it away once more.
This happened several times. Then the elephant asked the fly, “Why are you so restless and noisy? Why can’t you just stay in one place? ”
The fly answered, “I am interested in whatever I see, hear or smell. My five senses, and everything that happens around me, pull me here and there and I cannot resist (抵抗) them. What is your secret? How can you stay so calm and still? ”
The elephant stopped eating and said, “My five senses do not rule me. I am in control of myself — my senses do not tell me what to do. This helps me stay focused on whatever I do, and so, keep my mind calm and still. Now that I am eating, I am completely enjoying eating. In this way, I can just focus on enjoying my food. ”
After hearing these words, the fly’s eyes opened wide and a smile appeared on his face. He looked at the elephant and said, “I understand! I will always be restless if I let my senses control me. On the other hand, if I try to use some self-control, my mind will become calm and I’ll be able to stay still. ”
It is said that the mind is restless and pays attention to whatever is in front of it. But if you can control what you pay attention to, you can control your mind.
1. The fly thought he moved around a lot because ________.| A．he had nowhere to land |
| B．he couldn’t see things clearly |
| C．he was interested in everything around him |
| D．his five senses couldn’t work with each other |
| A．Being in control of one’s senses. |
| B．Enjoying eating. |
| C．Being able to find peace. |
| D．Focusing on many things at the same time. |
| A．The fly can resist everything that happens around him. |
| B．The five senses always rule the elephant. |
| C．The fly will be calm if the senses control him. |
| D．The elephant can focus on what he is doing. |
| A．Stay Still and Calm |
| B．Focus on More Than One Thing |
| C．Pay Attention to Your Feelings |
| D．Take Control of Your Mind |
2 . Once upon a time, a hippo(河马) lived in a river next to a big tree.
One day, a bird came and nested(筑巢) in the tree. The songs of the bird filled the hippo with so much envy(羡慕) that he couldn’t think of anything else. Every day he would think why he wasn’t born to be a bird even though the bird told him many times he was so lucky to be so big and such a good swimmer.
Finally, the hippo made up his mind that he would come out of the river, climb the tree and start singing. However, when he tried to climb the tree, it was very clear that the hippo didn’t have wings, nor claws to climb with.
Realizing that he would never climb up the tree, he angrily hit the tree until it came crashing to the ground. Then he stepped onto the leaves of the fallen tree, and began singing.
Unfortunately, hippos can’t sing, either. All that came from his mouth were terrible noises, and when the other animals heard this, they all came around to make fun of the hippo.
He was so ashamed by this. He also felt bad about having knocked the tree over. He used all his strength to raise the tree back up again, and looked after it until it completely recovered.
1. After reading this passage, we know___________.| A．the writer is telling us a true story |
| B．the story happened on an autumn day |
| C．the bird thought he was luckier than the hippo |
| D．the hippo tried to do something against his nature(天性) |
| A．be a good singer | B．be good at climbing trees |
| C．stop envying the bird | D．not make friends with other animals |
| A．The hippo that wished to sing | B．The tree that was knocked over |
| C．The bird that wished to swim | D．The animals that were in high spirits |
Three Fingers of Patience
Once there was a farmer with his wife and children living a happy life by earning from their own land in a village. The family planted in spring, and harvested the crops in autumn. They set aside enough for the whole year, and sold the extra in the market. With the money, the family could buy necessities and prepare seeds and fertilizer(肥料)for the next year. Look, the farmer was making his land ready for his next session of farming. The only issue faced by him was an in sufficient amount of water for the fields. After discussing with his family, the farmer came to a conclusion to dig a well nearby his land. This idea could not only solve the present problem of lacking water, but also improve the watering system once and for all.
After managing to get all the materials prepared, he went to visit an expert to ask for advice about where he should dig one. Under the guidance, he started the project at the edge of the land with great expectation. He worked very hard to dig day and night. Several days passed, and there was no water coming out, but he had confidence and further dug the well even without his lunch or dinner. Three days later, he became discouraged as nothing changed though he dug deeper and deeper. His hard work was not rewarded. The whole family boosted his confidence and advised him not to lose hope. He didn’t want to disappoint anyone, especially himself, and began his project again. Another two days went by, and there was not a single drop of water coming from the well. He was completely tired, lost patience and went home thinking that everything was a waste of time. Although his family still believed they were able to find water there, the result made them accept the failure. In case passers-by fell into the hole by mistake, they put a piece of wood which was the size of five fingers long near the unfinished well. Since then, the family didn’t talk about the well any more.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
One night, a villager walked beside the well and hit his leg on that wood by mistake.
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Water sprang up from the well as soon as the wood was hit down and rose to a certain level.
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In old Paris, a cobbler used to live and make and mend shoes and sing songs. He was a very happy cobbler, singing all day long and keeping time with his hammer or his needle. Up one stair, there lived a very rich man, so rich that he could not sleep at night for trying to count his money, and keep it safe.
So this rich man lay awake all night and always fell asleep in the morning. But no sooner had he fallen asleep than he was awakened again. It was not his money that wakened him this time; it was the cobbler, who was sitting at his door sewing away, and singing as happily as a bird.
The rich man went to a friend and said, "I can't sleep at night for thinking of my money, and I can't sleep in the morning for listening to that cobbler's singing. What am I to do?” This friend was a wise man, and gave him a plan. The next evening, while the cobbler was singing away as usual, the rich man came down with a bag filled with something that jingled （叮当作 响）.
“Here, cobbler," said the rich man, “I have brought you a present of a hundred crowns（克朗，旧时货币名称）,because you're always so happy.”
The cobbler was surprised though, he took the money and thanked the rich man. He had never seen so much money in his life before, but somehow he felt worried if the crowns might be stolen by someone. So he went into the darkest part of his house to count the crowns, and hid the bag in the bottom of the bed. Two or three times every hour he went in to see whether the bag was all right, for he was afraid of somebody taking his money. When his wife asked him what was the matter with him, he became angry and shouted at her, a thing he had never done before.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
A change had come over the cobbler.
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The cobbler missed the old happy days. So he made up mind what to do.
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