1 . For the first 19 months of her life, Helen Keller was like other pretty happy babies in every way. Then in 1882, a sudden illness destroyed her sight and hearing. Because she could not hear what other people were saying, the child could not learn to speak. For the following 5 years, she lived in a world of darkness, without sounds or words and her parents could do nothing but let her be.
The person who changed Helen’s world was her teacher, Anne Sullivan, who entered her life. Miss Sullivan had accepted a job, which seemed impossible. She had agreed to teach a blind child who had never learned to act like a human being, because no one had ever been able to guide her in any way. No one could control Helen. She acted like a young animal, rushing wildly around, throwing things, and hitting anyone whom she could reach. Who could believe that such a child could be taught?
But Anne Sullivan was a very special kind of teacher. She had been blind during part of her own childhood and had learned to read Braille, a system of writing that uses raised dots which can be felt by the finger of a blind person. She had learned to see again after several operations, but she had never forgotten the experience of being blind.
Miss Sullivan understood Helen. She loved her and believed she could teach her.
Anne Sullivan could not teach Helen Keller to speak until some other important things had been learned. The little girl had to learn to control her actions and feelings. She had to learn that she could not always do what she wished to do. She had always been able to get what she wished by using force. The teacher had to change such habits without breaking the child’s spirit.
Miss Sullivan’s battle began. Sometimes, there was real fighting between the wild child and the strong young teacher. At last, however, the battle was won by Miss Sullivan, who had succeeded in showing Helen that she loved her and wanted to help her. The child and her teacher became friends. They continued to be friends until the teacher’s death, 50 years later.
The day on which Helen finally accepted Miss Sullivan as her friend and teacher was a great day in Helen’s life. After that the teacher could begin to teach the child language.
1. Helen became blind and deaf after ________.| A．an unexpected accident | B．a football match |
| C．a sudden disease | D．fighting with her teacher |
| A．1917 | B．1932 | C．1937 | D．1939 |
| A．to pronounce a few words | B．to control herself properly |
| C．to copy some letters | D．to make different sounds |
| A．Sullivan learned the Braille when she was blind as a child. |
| B．Blind as Sullivan was, he accepted the challenge to teach Helen. |
| C．At first Sullivan and Helen often fought each other. |
| D．Sullivan died when she was fifty years old. |
2 . To Their Own Beat
When Los Lobos perform in concert today, audiences in the thousands cheer them on. It’s hard to believe that the group started out as just another garage band playing popular rock-and-roll tunes from the radio, In 1974 four high school friends from East Los Angeles formed Los Lobos ( Spanish for “The Wolves” ) .
Like many garage bands, these friends might have simply gone their separate ways after high school. But the members of Los Lobos wanted to keep making music together. They decided to change their musical style and began focusing on traditional Mexican music that showed their tradition.
“We pulled out all those records we used to beg our parents not to play around our friends and found an incredible wealth of music,” says Perez. “These guys (on the records) were doing amazing things with their instruments, and we started trying to pick up on it. ”
The group put aside its electric guitars for the acoustic ones used in traditional Mexican music. For several years Los Lobos played at weddings or parties—any event that needed live music. They also landed a regular engagement (合同) at a Mexican restaurant.
By 1978 Los Lobos had made enough money to record their first album (唱片) , and they sold copies of it wherever they performed. They also returned to their electric guitars to get closer to a Tex-Mex sound, which is a mixture of traditional Mexican music, rock and roll, country music, and the blues. This new, louder sound produced one unexpected result: the group was fired from the restaurant.
But it didn’t matter that Los Lobos had lost their one steady job, because they had found a position that no other group took up. They had combined electric and acoustic instruments and blended (混合) musical styles in their own way. Steve Berlin joined the band in 1983 as the saxophone and keyboard player, adding to the band’s unusual sound.
“We didn’t so much want to recycle the music we’d grown up with as much as find the common links between it and all the other styles and sounds that were all around us,” Perez explains. “It became a mission ... bringing music together to bring people together. ”
In the 1980s Los Lobos gained the attention of several record companies. They were hired to perform on the soundtrack to the film La Bamba, which earned them a Golden Eagle Award. They have since earned many awards, including two Grammys and an MTV Video Music Award. Their many records have been very successful, and they have toured the world.
Even after 30 years of making music together, Los Lobos continues to experiment with their sound. They never moved far away from their Mexican roots, however. They still include traditional music in their live performances, sharing their history—and their culture—with their fans.
1. Los Lobos recorded their first album after they_______.| A．lost their job at a restaurant |
| B．began playing acoustic guitars |
| C．won an award for a film soundtrack |
| D．added saxophone and keyboards to their sound |
| A．Paragraph 1. | B．Paragraph 4. | C．Paragraph 6. | D．Paragraph 8. |
| A．The way they recorded their first album. |
| B．Their blending of different types of music. |
| C．Their decision to play traditional Mexican music. |
| D．The fact that they performed and toured the world. |
| A．Music is best when played with traditional instruments. |
| B．Music must be recorded to be passed down. |
| C．Music should remain the same over time. |
| D．Music can show many cultures. |
3 . Common Mistakes New Runners Make
Running is a great way to get in shape and just about everyone can do it. However, many make a number of common mistakes, which can interfere (妨碍) with training or lead to injury.
·Doing too much too soon
One of the biggest mistakes new runners make is doing too much too soon. Slowly easing into a training program will help reduce the risk of injury, so you can continue on with your new running routine
·
Beginners might think they need to run every day (or nearly every day) to meet their fitness or weight-loss goals, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Running is a high-impact activity which can be really hard on your body. So it’s important to give your body a rest between workouts.
·Not wearing the right equipment
•Running through pain
| A．Not taking rest days |
| B．If you’re just starting out |
| C．Comparing yourself to others |
| D．Running can be uncomfortable at times |
| E．It’s important not to use the same muscles |
| F．While it may be true that you don’t need expensive equipment to take up running |
| G．Experts suggest increasing your running distance by no more than 10% each week |
4 . Whistling (吹口哨) can be a fun passtime.
Start by finding a mirror. First, place your lips (嘴唇) to form a small “O”.
Once you’ve produced a beautiful note, move on, adjusting your lips, tongue, and the force with which you blow to produce different sounds.
When you first learn to whistle，you may hear sounds like those heard when air escapes a tire (轮胎). When you hear such sounds, don’t feel sad.
| A．Then stick your tongue out. |
| B．Small amounts of air often work best. |
| C．This means you are heading in the right direction. |
| D．Some people whistle a song to help pass the time. |
| E．You may need someone to teach you how to whistle. |
| F．Next, position your tongue behind your lower teeth. |
| G．Don’t expect to learn to whistle perfectly on the first try. |
5 . How to Get Teens to Establish Sleeping Habits
Although you might not be able to control all of the factors that interfere (干预) with your sleep, you can adopt habits that encourage better sleep. Start with these sleep tips.
1.
2. Keep electronic gadgets(设备) out of your teen’s bedroom. Have your teen leave her phone and other devices in the living room or kitchen when she goes to bed. If your teen brings her phone or tablet to bed with her, she might stay up late checking her social media pages or sending texts.
3. Set up a pre-bedtime schedule.
4. Make your teenager’s room ideal for sleep by keeping it dark and cool.
| A．After this, she will sleep soundly. |
| B．Create a sleep schedule with your teenager. |
| C．Sleeping well is very important for teenagers. |
| D．Stick to the sleep schedule, even on weekends. |
| E．Hang up curtains or blinds to block out light from the windows. |
| F．The bright light from the screen also makes it difficult for people to fall asleep. |
| G．About an hour before a teenager goes to bed, turn off the television, computer and other gadgets. |
6 . We are spending too much time on social media today. So what if you make a habit of spending no more than ten minutes a day?
•
Don’t waste your efforts by being on every platform (平台). Instead, choose only one platform to start. Make sure that you enjoy it.
•Choose the right time.
Find your best time to use social media.
•Engage (参与).
Be wise in deciding what you want to talk about.
| A．Make it easy. |
| B．Only use one platform. |
| C．Be sure not to give away your personal information. |
| D．Your topic should help you express your point of view. |
| E．Actually, you can achieve a lot of things within ten minutes. |
| F．There’s no sense picking YouTube if you hate creating videos. |
| G．Habits are easier to form when they take place at the same time every day. |
7 . The term ScotchIrish is an American term used to describe those ScotsIrish who live in America.In Britain the term ScotsIrish used for these people is UlsterScots. Then, where did the ScotsIrish come from on earth? To find the answer, you should get to know a little bit about the history of Scotland.
After the Celtic invasion (入侵) of Britain about 500 BC, what is now Scotland was controlled by the Celtic people known as the Picts. This name came from the Latin word pictus meaning “painted”. They painted their bodies with dyes (染料).
In the fifth century, the Scots from northern Ireland invaded what is now western Scotland and established a kingdom in the highlands. They spoke Gaelic, a Celtic language. At this same time the AngloSaxon invasion of Britain was taking place. Scotland is made up of the highlands and the lowlands, and the Gaelic name for the lowlands is a’Ghalldachd, meaning “the place of the foreigners”．And whom might those foreigners be? The AngloSaxon invasion of Britain included the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes. The Jutes came from what is now northwestern Denmark.They settled (定居) in the southernmost part of Britain. The Saxons came from the northwest coast of Germany and they settled in the southern third of Britain. The Angles came from southwestern Denmark and they conquered what is now northern England and the lowlands of Scotland. They were the foreigners referred to in the Gaelic name for the lowlands.
In the 17th century, the British leaders decided to settle some of its people in the Northern Ireland province of Ulster. They chose the people from Lowland Scotland. This migration (移民) started about 1605.
When the British colonization (殖民) of North America began many of them chose to join this migration. By the time of the American Revolution it was said that onesixth of the population was the ScotsIrish.
1. Which of the following had the custom of body painting?| A．The Scots. | B．The Picts. |
| C．The ScotsIrish. | D．The AngloSaxons. |
| A．A kingdom was set up by the Scots fell. |
| B．The Scots lost the lowlands in a war. |
| C．Gaelic was widely spoken in the highlands. |
| D．The highlands were controlled by the Jutes. |
| A．northern England |
| B．western Scotland |
| C．Ulster of Northern Ireland |
| D．southernmost part of Britain |
| A．Why the ScotsIrish chose America to settle. |
| B．The AngloSaxon invasion of Britain. |
| C．The history of the country Scotland. |
| D．Who the ScotsIrish were exactly. |
8 . Now, a growing number of companies are offering subscriptions (订购) for something most people are used to owning: cars.
Car subscription plans are mainly aimed at drivers who do not want to have long-term agreements for one single car. Many people using the services say they like being able to use a number of different kinds of vehicles depending on their needs.
Steve Barnes uses a car subscription service in Atlanta, Georgia. He says that every time he orders a new car “it feels like New Year’s morning”. Barnes signed up for the service in 2018 to be able to use many kinds of vehicles for different purposes. He says for some activities with his children, he chooses a large SUV. But when he wants to have fun or go out at night, he chooses a Tesla or some other kinds of sports car. But the comfort of such services can come at a high cost. Barnes pays $1,400 a month for his subscription. This is much higher than the $ 900 a month he used to pay to hire an SUV with insurance. Sill, he has no desire to own or hire a car again. He says his subscription has allowed him to drive many different vehicles which would have cost more than $1 million to own.
Some of the world’s biggest automakers are currently offering subscription plans for vehicles. One of them is Ford Motor Company. The company signed a deal last year with the San Francisco-based Monthly subscription service-Canvas. Canvas offers several models, including used vehicles. Monthly subscriptions start at $379 for small cars and go up to $1,125 for large SUVs. But these plans limit drivers to 800 kilometers per month. For another $100, users can get unlimited travel.
Adela Spulber works at the U.S. -based Center for Automotive Research in Michigan. She said that the effects of vehicle subscription services remain unknown.
1. What is the main purpose of car subscription plans?| A．To get people to buy cars more actively. |
| B．To encourage people to own their own cars. |
| C．To meet some people’s needs to drive different cars. |
| D．To reach an agreement with people having a single car. |
| A．He is satisfied with the car subscription service. |
| B．He always likes to use different types of sports cars. |
| C．He hopes to own another car some day. |
| D．The cost of a month for his subscription is lower. |
| A．Canvas doesn’t provide second-hand cars. |
| B．There are different monthly subscriptions to choose from. |
| C．A driver may drive Canvas cars without limitation. |
| D．Now the subscription services are welcome in San Francisco. |
| A．Hopeless. | B．Pessimistic. | C．Optimistic. | D．Uncertain. |
9 . Stress is everywhere in our daily life. And it is not just men who suffer from it, but women and young and old people, too.
The main causes of stress are: death, divorce, marriage, money, moving house, changing jobs, ending relationships and taking exams.
So how do you know if you suffer from stress? Do the Stress Test and find out!
Stress Test
| Do you | Yes | No |
| 1. often sleep badly? | ||
| 2. get headaches a lot? | ||
| 3. find it difficult to relax? | ||
| 4. need alcohol or cigarettes to keep calm? | ||
| 5. usually hide your feeling? | ||
| 6. find it difficult to put your heart into something? | ||
| 7. take sleeping pills? | ||
| 8. get angry when things go wrong? |
If you answer Yes to more than two of these questions, you are one of many people who suffer from stress. So what can you do about it?
Doing yoga (瑜伽) or relaxation exercises, chewing gum and playing with worry beads (念珠) are all common ways of relieving (减轻) stress.
However doctors now say that there are simpler ways. Their advice is that people should laugh and smile more often. When you laugh and smile , your body relaxes. They also say that people--and especially men--ought to cry more frequently, because crying is the natural way of relieving stress.
1. What can you learn from the passage?| A．Young people suffer from more stress than the old. |
| B．Many social problems cause stress. |
| C．If you answer YES to more than three of these questions, you are one of many people who suffer from stress. |
| D．Doing yoga is the most useful way to relieve stress. |
(1) drink too much (2) often sleepy (3) usually hide your feeling (4) find it difficult to relax
| A．(1) and (2) | B．(1) and (4) | C．(2) and (3) | D．(3) and (4) |
| A．chewing gum | B．playing with worry beads | C．laugh and cry | D．above all |
| A．Living with stress | B．Social problems | C．Ways of relieving stress | D．Stress Test |
10 . One day, a woman walked into a pet store to buy a bird for her Thanksgiving Day party. The guy said, “We only have one parrot. But I think you do not want it because it can talk…” The woman said happily, “That’s great. I’ve always wanted a talking bird.” So the guy said, “Since you are a nice lady, I’ll give it to you as a gift.”
And the lady went home and put the bird on her bed and walked out of the room. But as soon as she walked into the kitchen, the bird started to speak dirty words as loud as it could. The woman walked back into the room thinking, “I can’t have this at my party!” So she took the bird and put it in the fridge. A few hours later, while the woman was eating, she remembered that her bird was still in the fridge. Quickly, she opened the door and found it was shivering. Then she took out the bird at once. She said to the bird, “I’ll keep you out of there if you don’t use that language again. Do you agree with me?”
The bird nodded and asked, “Can I just ask a quick question?” The lady nodded and said, “Yes, you may.” The bird pointed at the turkey behind him and asked, “What did he do?”
1. The woman went into the pet store because ________.| A．there were lots of nice birds in it |
| B．she wanted to buy a bird to make a big meal |
| C．she wanted to buy a bird for Thanksgiving Day party |
| D．she wanted to buy a bird for his son’s birthday |
| A．发抖 | B．睡觉 | C．生气 | D．跳动 |
| A．how the turkey was put into the fridge. | B．why itself was in the fridge. |
| C．who could be in the fridge. | D．why the turkey was in the fridge. |
| A．she wanted to cook it on Thanksgiving Day | B．the bird spoke dirty words |
| C．the bird liked living in the cold place | D．she thought it’s the best place for it to live in |
