1 . My family lives in Texas. I was born and brought up in Texas and I am a graduate of the University of Texas. However, around my second year in law school, I wanted to make a great change, which was almost unheard of for Texans: I wanted to leave!
I realized this after completing my first-year internship(实习期). I knew I wanted something different and my chance came during the 2011 Super Bowl(橄榄球超级大赛) in Dallas. A snowstorm blanketed the entire city in snow and thousands of people were gathered. I overheard that StubHub, a big company from a great city, San Francisco, was throwing a party next door to my hotel. I thought if I could get an internship, I could leave for the summer and at least see what it was like. Yes, it was a huge leap. I told myself I was ready.
There was just one problem: I wasn’t invited to the StubHub party. But you know I’m the type of person who goes for something she wants. Needless to say, I crashed the party and found my way to the president. I kindly introduced myself and then asked if they had a legal internship program. Guess what? They accepted my request to be a legal intern, even though no such program existed.
The legal department didn’t have a permanent position for me. However, I got many other chances to be a legal intern in other companies. That experience has shaped my life. Working for a great company in San Francisco, I’m incredibly happy for making my decision to leave Texas.
By leaving Texas, I learned that it is so much more rewarding to try the unfamiliar than to stay in the comfort zone. Exploring the unfamiliar is how you’ll understand what fits your life. I say, dive in headfirst.
1. The author was able to leave Texas because__________.| A．she dropped out of the University of Texas |
| B．she watched the 2011 Super Bowl in Dallas |
| C．a snowstorm blanketed the entire city in snow |
| D．she introduced herself to the president of StubHub |
| A．suitable | B．important |
| C．long-lasting | D．high-respected |
| A．Patient and honest. | B．Smart and humorous. |
| C．Determined and positive. | D．Supportive and energetic. |
| A．You must choose a career that you like. |
| B．Jumping out of your comfort zone is rewarding. |
| C．Accepting who you are makes you realize your strengths. |
| D．You should listen to your family to learn about your potential. |
2 . How often do you use your car？ Can you use your car less often？ Do you know the following facts in the Uk？
About 50% of all car journeys are just for fun.
Over 80% people go to work by car.
25% car journeys are under two miles.
70% car journeys are under five miles.
WALKING&CYCLING
Instead of using the car for short journeys，why not walk or ride a bicycle？ Walking is a most popular form of exercise—it's healthy and it can save you money. If you work nearby， try walking or cycling instead of driving. Walking your children to school gives them valuable road experience.
BUSES
Bus companies are using new buses：some run on new fuels which produce less pollution；some have easier access for disabled and old people. There are special traffic lanes（行车道）to make bus journeys easier and more reliable. So do something to help solve the pollution problem let the bus take you to work and your children to school.
TRAINS
All car journeys，long or short，can be hard work. For some trips it is wiser to take the train. Leave your car at home and walk，cycle or take a bus to and from the station. Train travel is fast，safe and comfortable. Train tickets are not always expensive；some are quite cheap at discount.
1. How many of car journeys are just for fun in the UK？| A．25%. | B．About 50%. |
| C．70%. | D．Over 80%. |
| A．walking to school | B．traveling by train |
| C．taking new fuel buses | D．having car journeys for fun |
| A．Tiring. | B．Comfortable. |
| C．Exciting. | D．Awful. |
| A．To advise people to use cars less often. |
| B．To encourage people to travel by train. |
| C．To teach people how to use the buses. |
| D．To tell people to obey traffic rules. |
3 . If you ever have the desire to break out into song—in the shower，in the car，maybe at your neighbor's karaoke night—you should embrace it whole—heartedly. This ancient art not only makes you feel good，it can also improve your well-being，reduce your feelings of pain，and even extend your life.
Using your voice to sing，rather than simply carryout a conversation，offers unique benefits because singing affects our bodies. Also，studies link singing with a lower heart rate，decreased blood pressure and reduced stress according to Patricia Preston-Roberts，a music therapist（治疗专家）.（1）
Singing，particularly in a group，seems to benefit the elderly particulartly well. As part of a three一year study examining how singing affects the health of those fifty-five and older，a Senior Singers Chorus was formed by the Levine School of Music in Washington.D.C. The seniors involved in the chorus，as well as seniors in two separate arts groups about writing and painting，showed significant health improvements compared to those in the control groups（对照组）. Obviously，the arts groups reported thirty fewer doctors' visit，fewer eyesight problems，less depression，and less need for medication.（2）
Even lead researcher Dr.Gene D.Coben，director of the Center on Aging at George Washington University，was surprised at how big an effect the seniors' arts participation had on their health. Coben said，“The average age of all the subjects was eighty. This is higher than life expectancy. So，if an effect were to be achieved，one would ordinarily expect to see less decline（下降）compared to the control group. The fact that there was so much improvement in many areas was the surprising factor.”（3）The seniors also noticed health improvements and they reported feeling better both in daily life and while singing.
The part of the brain that works with speech is different from the part that processes music.“People seem to enjoy doing something jointly with other people. There are a lot of facts that being socially involved is good for people with dementia（老年痴呆）.” Ballard said.
The arts are showing up as a treatment tool in hospitals across the country.（4）If you are thinking of volunteering，singing at a hospital may be a good choice—not only for the patients，but also for yourself.
1. Why was Coben surprised at the results of the study？
| A．The study was not expensive as expected. |
| B．Arts acted as a treatment tool in hospitals. |
| C．People's health in the arts group improved greatly. |
| D．The seniors themselves noticed health improvements. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. |
| C．Negative. | D．Worried. |
“She uses song to help patients who suffer from a variety of problems.”
| A．（1） | B．（2） |
| C．（3） | D．（4） |
| A．How to Avoid Getting Dementia. |
| B．How Seniors Live a Healthy Life. |
| C．How to Keep Our Brains Healthy. |
| D．How Singing Improves Your Health. |
4 . The Grass Cutting Days
Every time we headed out to cut grass，Dad was there to watch. I used to
One day we were cutting our next-door neighbor's yard. She always waited until the grass was knee-high to call us over. To make matters worse，we had an old lawn mower that kept breaking down as we tried to cut through her backyard jungle. This particular afternoon，I was finishing up and was
I was just about to turn off the lawn mower
But when I reached adulthood，I understood his
Other neighbors took
The lesson my dad taught me stayed with me：Be
1. | A．wonder | B．understand | C．know | D．expect |
| A．hiding | B．relaxing | C．playing | D．talking |
| A．wise | B．back | C．warm | D．tired |
| A．pictured | B．decided | C．required | D．invented s |
| A．until | B．before | C．when | D．while |
| A．involved | B．caught | C．changed | D．paid |
| A．discouraged | B．ashamed | C．touched | D．shocked |
| A．surprising | B．frightening | C．hurting | D．challenging |
| A．punishment | B．message | C．cruelty | D．expression |
| A．seemed | B．realized | C．meant | D．found |
| A．care | B．notice | C．place | D．control |
| A．business | B．workers | C．experience | D．prizes |
| A．patient | B．powerful | C．prepared | D．professional |
| A．break | B．give | C．save | D．keep |
| A．advice | B．service | C．attention | D．warmth |
I walked to the door and knocked. “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good man,” she said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice (临终医院). I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter (计价器).
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At dawn, she suddenly said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“Nothing,” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
1. The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to ________.
| A．show she was familiar with the city |
| B．see some places for the last time |
| C．let the driver earn more money |
| D．reach the destination on time |
| A．wanted to do her a favor |
| B．shut off the meter by mistake |
| C．had received her payment in advance |
| D．was in a hurry to take other passengers |
| A．Giving is always a pleasure. |
| B．People should respect each other. |
| C．An act of kindness can bring people great joy. |
| D．People should learn to appreciate others’ concern. |
