1 . Everyone wants to perform well at school. Add these tips to your life and you should be on your way to being a top student!
Taking notes is important. You don’t need to write down every single word your teacher says but write down what he or she writes on the blackboard, or any special fact you think you might need for a test.
Don’t skip school. You will be missing courses.
Keep a good attitude (态度) towards things. If you have an “ I don’t care about school or this class” attitude, then teachers will be less willing to help you with problems. The same goes for lazy attitude. Have a respectful attitude to the teacher and other students.
Always ask questions.
| A．Be prepared. |
| B．Write in your own words. |
| C．Staying organized will be helpful. |
| D．Pay attention to what the teacher says. |
| E．It is true that you could make up the work. |
| F．There is no shame (羞愧)in needing some help. |
| G．Try not to laugh when other students make mistakes. |
2 . When water is cold, people will find it uncomfortable to swim. Wetsuits(潜水服）can help keep people warm.
The wetsuit doesn't have a long history. According to studies, the wetsuit only began during WWII when Italians started wearing wetsuits that were made of rubber. And it was widely believed in 1951, Hugh Bradner began working to improve the equipment.
Now there are many kinds of wetsuits. Contrary to what some may think, wetsuits do not work by keeping the diver(潜水员）dry; they are designed to let water into the suit. This thin layer of water is trapped（保存）between the diver and the suit. And it's allowed to move between the skin of the diver and the inside layer.
Wetsuits can also differ in thickness. They range from about 0. 5mm to 8mm in thickness. It's true that thicker wetsuits are more likely to affect your movement.
| A．But they're much better at giving you warmth. |
| B．As for the difference, wetsuits can differ in size. |
| C．The history of the wetsuit is an interesting story. |
| D．This led to the development of a kind of new wetsuit. |
| E．Many wetsuits are very light and easy to wear and take off. |
| F．As a result, the water gradually warms up to body temperature. |
| G．And they can provide protection from the sun and cuts from rocks. |
3 . Nostalgia (怀旧) has become increasingly common in our current climate of unexpected, fast-paced change. More and more people are turning back with longing for what feels like simpler, sweeter times. They collect cassette tapes, manual typewriters even decades-old video games.
Is it a mistake to get too obsessed with the past? Some psychologists warn that too much devotion to the so-called good old days is an escape from reality; it can indicate loneliness or that a person is having a difficult time coping in the present. Psychologist Stephanie Coontz argues that nostalgia distracts us from addressing the problems of modern life and contributes to anxiety, depression, insomnia etc.
But new studies suggest that a modest dose of nostalgia is not only harmless, but actually beneficial. They suggest it helps strengthen our sense of identity and makes us feel more optimistic and inspired. It is also a tool for self-discovery and memories are a psychological immune response that is triggered when you want to take a break from negativity. Interestingly, those happy memories can be particularly beneficial both to kids in their teens and to society’s elders. Recalling our childhood reminds us of “the times when we were accented and loved unconditionally,” says Krystine Batcho, a psychologist. “That is such a powerfully comforting phenomenon, knowing that there was a time in life when we didn’t have to earn our love.” Nostalgia can transform even the most ordinary past into legends which warms the heart and the body. Let’s not forget that nostalgia has been a source of inspiration to innumerable American writers. Mark Twain recalled his boyhood, writing, “after all these years, I can picture that old time to myself now, just as it was then: The white town drowsing in the sunshine of a summer’s morning.”
So go ahead, daydream a little about your best childhood friend, your first car, a long-gone family pet. As Dr. Sedikidessays, “Nostalgia is absolutely central to human experience.” But at the same time, keep these words of wisdom from the great inventor Charles Kettering in mind as well: “You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time.”
1. What did some psychologists in paragraph 2 probably agree?| A．Nostalgia can cause some mental problems. |
| B．Nostalgia makes us devoted to the present life. |
| C．Nostalgia shows you are trying to get rid of loneliness. |
| D．Nostalgia helps us cope with the difficult time we are going through. |
| A．It can enable us to know ourselves better |
| B．It can bring us some comfort when we recall |
| C．We are likely to gain attention if we recall the happy childhood |
| D．We can sometimes break away from negativity with happy memories |
| A．The reasons why we should avoid nostalgia. |
| B．The great changes nostalgia will bring to you. |
| C．The bad memories that always stick around you. |
| D．The bad influence of too much devotion to nostalgia. |
| A．People tend to be lost in nostalgia. |
| B．People actually benefit from nostalgia. |
| C．Childhood memories influence present life. |
| D．There are some periods when people look back. |
4 . When I was a young man, I had a big ego (自负) and very little empathy (同理心). I thought I knew everything. I looked forward to fame and success. I can even remember proudly telling one of my friends in college: “If only everyone listened to me, they would all be happy.” I finally left school, ready to take on the world. Little did I know the world was about to take on me.
In the years following college, instead of success, I found struggles. I had trouble finding work. The jobs I did work at were either temporary or back-breaking and none of them paid well. When my wife and I had children, we were shocked to learn that not one but both of our sons had autis (自闭症) and would need to be taken care of for the rest of their lives. I had no idea why this had happened to us and I was very angry with the world.
In time, however, I began to change. My formerly massive ego was shrinking fast and my empathy was beginning to grow. Instead of finding joy in success, I found it in moments of love. Playing and laughing with my sons brought me so much happiness. My boys taught me more about peace, patience, kindness, joy, and unconditional love than I could have ever learned on my own. I began to share the lessons I learned through my writing and my life.
I finally realized that my purpose in this world had nothing to do with fame or success but everything to do with allowing love and light into my life and sharing it with everyone I could.
1. What was the author like when he was young?| A．He was popular. |
| B．He was a top student. |
| C．He was overconfident about his abilities. |
| D．He was warm-hearted to others. |
| A．found a tiring but well-paid job |
| B．wanted to live a challenging life |
| C．didn’t want to have children early |
| D．suffered many difficulties in life |
| A．The time with his family. |
| B．The books he wrote. |
| C．The difficulties in his work. |
| D．The improvement in his life. |
| A．Life can be very hard for some people. |
| B．Parents need to be patient with their kids. |
| C．It’s important to learn how to be a father. |
| D．The purpose of life is to share love. |
5 . Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Founded in 1899 as the country’s first museum specifically made for children, today’s BCM is comprehensive, with a permanent collection of 30,000 objects, including musical instruments, masks and dolls. Kids love the interactive World Brooklyn, a small cityscape lined by stores where children can pretend to be working grown-ups.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Looking for interactive art that welcomes curious minds? Then head to Inside Art, the current show up at CMOM, which lets your little ones climb in and over and all around the exhibits. It’s ideas like this that make the 40,000-square-foot so special. Learning about culture, history and science is a pride for kids aged six and under. CMOM also hosts classes—like Gross Biology for kids who are interested in insects—all designed with the latest child-development research in mind.
DiMenna Children’s History Museum
The hands-on displays at this kid-focused arm of the New York Historical Society transport children back through 350 years of US history, with a special focus on NYC. Children are encouraged to climb around and interact with exhibits that highlight the lives of kids who grew up to become famous doctors, athletes and political figures. Little New Yorkers can get in on sing-alongs and crafts. Other family programs include cooking classes, games and story hours.
Staten Island Children’s Museum
Staten Island Children’s Museum nurtures creativity. It offers hands-on experiences like the Block Harbor (plenty of blocks to play with!), larger-than-life games like Connect Four and Dominoes, and even the opportunity to climb through a human-sized anthill or play firefighter at Ladder 11, so you'll find immersive fun around every corner. Don’t forget to stop by Green Living Room powered by the wind energy where the kids can learn about ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
1. Who is most likely to be the target reader of this article?| A．Scholars. | B．Teachers. | C．Parents. | D．Children. |
| A．Brooklyn Children’s Museum. | B．Children’s Museum of Manhattan. |
| C．DiMenna Children’s History Museum. | D．Staten Island Children’s Museum. |
| A．It provides children with real life working experiences. |
| B．It allows children to immerse themselves in observing ants . |
| C．It gives lessons on how to develop children’s creativity. |
| D．It raises children’s awareness of environmental protection. |
6 . What's on your travel list? I've consulted several travel experts to find out some places worth visiting.
Where ： New Orleans, Louisiana
Chosen by： Natalie DiScala is a writer and editor at johnnyjet. com, covering travel trends? products and family travel.
Why： New Orleans is known for its music and food—not to mention the festivals. It has about 130 festivals each year so there's really no bad time to visit. Bourbon Street is the obvious choice for food, drink and jazz and it's definitely a must-visit location, especially for first-timers to the city.
Where ： Vail , Colorado
Chosen by： Becca Ingle is an active family travel blogger. She is the founder of BeccaIngle, com, where you can read all her travel guides.
Why： Vail is the perfect destination for families and travelers looking to find almost everything in one central spot. Stay at the amazing Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail to be steps away from Vail Village, a popular town with special heated stone streets for strolling（漫步）,restaurants and bars, coffee shops, ice-skating, a movie theater and a bowling alley.
Where： Hudson Valley, New York
Chosen by： Devorah Lev-Tov is a food and travel writer who regularly writes for The New York Times , Afar, Conde Nast Traveler , etc.
Why：New Yorkers go to escape the city when they need a healthy close to nature and relaxation there. The 750-mile biking and hiking route links communities across New York State and links up to the Hudson Greenway Trails. The region was recently equipped with the famous Charlie Palmer Restaurant.
1. Who is the writer of johnnyjet. com?| A．Natalie DiScala. | B．Becca Ingle. | C．Devorah Lev-Tov. | D．Charlie Palmer. |
| A．Bourbon Street. | B．Four Seasons Resort. |
| C．Vail Village. | D．Residences Vail. |
| A．Visit big towns. | B．Enjoy riding bikes. |
| C．Watch the latest films. | D．Attend music festivals. |
7 . Mandara seemed to know something big was about to happen. So she let out a yell, caught hold of her 2-year-old daughter Kibibi and climbed up into a tree. She lives at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
And on Tuesday, August 23rd, witnesses say, she seemed to sense the big earthquake that shook much of the East Coast before any humans knew what was going on. And she’s not the only one. In the moments before the quake, an orangutan (猩猩) let out a loud call and then climbed to the top of her shelter.
“It’s very different from their normal call,” said Brandie Smith, the zookeeper. “The lemurs (monkey-like animals of Madagascar) will sound an alarm call if they see or hear something highly unusual.”
But you can’t see or hear an earthquake 15 minutes before it happens, can you? Maybe you can — if you’re an animal. “Animals can hear above and below our range of hearing,” said Brandie Smith. “That’s part of their special abilities. They’re more sensitive to the environment, which is how they survive.”
Primates(灵长类）weren’t the only animals that seemed to sense the quake before it happened. One of the elephants made a warning sound. And a huge lizard (蜥蜴) ran quickly for cover. The flamingoes (a kind of bird) gathered before the quake and stayed together until the shaking stopped.
So what kind of vibrations（震动）were the animals picking up in the moments before the quake? Scientist Susan Hough says earthquakes produce two types of waves — a weak “P” wave and then a much stronger “S” wave. The “P” stands for “primary”. And the “S” stands for “secondary”. She thinks the “P” wave might be what set the animals off.
Not all the animals behaved unusually before the quake. For example, Smith says the zoo’s giant pandas didn’t jump up until the shaking actually began. But many of the other animals seemed to know something was coming before it happened. “I’m not surprised at all,” Smith said.
1. Why did Mandara act strangely one day?| A．Because it heard an orangutan let out a loud call. |
| B．Because its daughter Kibibi was injured. |
| C．Because it sensed something unusual would happen. |
| D．Because an earthquake had happened. |
| A．many animals’ hearing is sharp |
| B．earthquakes produce two types of waves |
| C．primates usually gather together before a quake |
| D．humans can develop the ability to sense a quake |
| A．vibration | B．quake |
| C．shelter | D．range |
| A．How animals survive a quake. |
| B．How animals differ from humans. |
| C．How animals protect their young in a quake |
| D．How animals behave before a quake. |
8 . Ways to make a great first impression
You’ve heard it a million times already. But it really does take but a few seconds to make that all-important first impression（印象）. Here are some easy ways for you to impress your classmates or teachers.
*
Before you shake hands with somebody, make sure that your hands are clean. The hand-shake should not be too strong or weak. Most people use their right hands, unless they have a reason to use the left.
*Be on time
When meeting someone for the first time, arriving on time is as important as breathing. You may have an excuse, but that will leave the person who hardly knows you with a bad impression.
*Introduce yourself and ask for names
Make sure you properly introduce yourself. Ask for their name in a polite way.
*Make good conversation
To get the most out of your discussion, try to find something common between the two of you.
| A．Use body language |
| B．Have a proper handshake |
| C．Repeat the name and use it later in conversation. |
| D．It could be a similar taste in clothes or a common hobby |
| E．As a general rule, plan to arrive about 30 minutes early. |
| F．You’ll be in serious trouble if you leave them with a bad impression. |
| G．However, don’t have your left hand in your pocked because this appears impolite. |
9 . Bad weather drags your spirits down. There’s nothing you can do about the weather.
◆Find things to enjoy about winter.
A snowy, icy, cold, or rainy world can be beautiful and often has sounds and smells of its own. If you’re an artist, or photographer, winter provides a great deal of inspiration and different colors to work with.
◆Take part in winter activities.
◆
Winter comes with the shortest days and lowest light of the year. Go out if you can. If you can’t, or if you’re so far from the equator as to have little or no daylight, use bright lights and perhaps light or white walls.
◆Stay active.
As much as possible, get yourself outside. Take at least a short walk. If the weather does not permit, move around inside. Walk up and down your stairs if you have them.
| A．Go out |
| B．Brighten up |
| C．Perhaps you don’t feel that creative |
| D．Enjoy skiing, sledding, or ice-skating |
| E．Making snowmen is a fun activity for both kids and adults |
| F．But there are various things you can do to keep your spirits up until spring |
| G．Exercise gets your body temperature up and your blood flowing |
10 . Long long ago, there was an old man who lived with his son, his daughter-in-law, and a four-year-old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled(颤抖), his eyesight was very poor, and he couldn’t walk steadily (平稳地). The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Rice often dropped on the floor.
The son and the daughter-in-law became angry with the old man, so they put a small table in the corner. There, the grandfather ate alone, while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner at the table. Since the grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
The four-year-old son watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with a piece of wood on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” The boy answered, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food from when I grow up.” The four-year-old son smiled and went back to work. The words struck the parents so hard that they were in silence. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks (脸颊). Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table.
1. Why was the old man’s food served in a wooden bowl?| A．Because there was only a wooden bowl left. |
| B．Because the wooden bowl was light enough. |
| C．Because the old man had broken a few dishes. |
| D．Because the son and the daughter-in-law became angry with the old man. |
| A．shocked | B．annoyed | C．worried | D．confused |
| A．A Dinner Table | B．A Wooden Bowl |
| C．An Old Man and His Son | D．A Couple and Their Son |
