1 . Recently we celebrated my grandmother’s 90th birthday. Family members traveled to my hometown to visit her. This was the first time in many years that I had seen so many of them. Though this was an opportunity to see family, many people did not make it. Honestly, living far from hometown, I had missed many family gatherings. But this one made me realize how much I was really missing.
It seemed strange when I was looking at the faces, realizing whom they were and greeting them with open arms. After chatting for a while, we caught up on each other’s news. Several relatives suggested having a family reunion soon if everyone wasn’t so busy. But my grandmother’s generation was much busier, yet still found time to gather. They understood the importance of visiting one another. They knew time is flying and that those you care about most won’t be here forever.
Today, we focus on our careers and raising our kids. Our extended family isn’t the center it once was. Besides, we keep in touch on social media. But what we really miss are the potato salad, the moments of laughter and sudden bursts of excitement when we hug someone we haven’t seen for over 10 years. Although the next get-together is always a year or so away, people aren’t goods and everyone has an expiration (到期) date.
I left my grandmother’s party with a much better sense of who I am and where I come from. I spent valuable time with people who contributed to who I am today. I had forgotten how much I love them and I was reminded how much I am loved.
1. How did the author feel about missing previous family gatherings?A.Indifferent. | B.Sad. | C.Regretful. | D.Annoyed. |
A.They were carefree. | B.They held family dear. |
C.They took time seriously. | D.They seldom visited family. |
A.Family reunions mean no fun. |
B.All goods don’t have an expiration date. |
C.People are always too busy to get together. |
D.We should see loved ones more before it’s too late. |
A.To convince readers to meet friends. |
B.To share an interesting family reunion. |
C.To stress the value of family gatherings. |
D.To compare different generations’ values. |
2 . Ellen Parker was worried about her health. She could not walk very quickly and it was difficult for her to climb stairs. She was soon out of breath. “I suppose I had better go to the doctor,” she thought. She went to the doctor and told him her problem.
“I’m not at all surprised, ” he said. “It’s clear what your problem is.”
He examined her and then gave her some advice.
“If you don’t do what I say, Mrs. Parker,” he said, “you will have a heart attack. It could kill you.” Ellen was very worried as she left the doctor’s. She knew that she had to take his advice but that it would not be easy and it would take time.
The next day she went shopping. The first shop she went into was a butcher’s shop (肉铺).
“I’d like ten pounds of steak (牛排), please,” she said.
“Certainly, madam,” the butcher replied and went into the cold room and found a large piece of steak. He brought the huge piece of meat back into the shop and placed it on the scale (秤).
“That’s just under ten pounds,” he said.
“That’s big enough,” Mrs. Parker said.
The butcher worked out the price. “At $4. 99 a pound. That will be $49.50, please. Would you like me to cut it up into smaller pieces for you?”
“Oh, I don’t want to buy the meat,” Mrs. Parker said.
“If you don’t want to buy it,” the butcher replied angrily, “why did you ask me to get it for you?”
“My doctor told me that I am overweight and have to lose ten pounds. I wanted to see what ten pounds of flesh looked like.”
1. The reason why Ellen Parker visited the doctor is that________.A.she had had a heart attack. | B.she had a problem with her health. |
C.she was unhappy about her weight. | D.she could not sleep well. |
A.she wanted to buy some for dinner. | B.she wanted to lose weight. |
C.her doctor had told her to eat steak. | D.she wanted to see what ten pounds of meat looked like. |
A.She ate too much steak. | B.She weighed too much. |
C.The doctor did not know. | D.She could not walk very quickly. |
3 . Failure is an unavoidable part of life. Though science has named some life skills that promise success, we’re told over and over again that no great success was ever achieved without failure—or many failed attempts. One of life’s most important lessons, therefore, has to be how to handle failure best. But what is the message?
For starters, ignore advice from anyone that tells you, “Don’t beat yourself up about it, ” no matter how well-meaning they are. According to the new research from the University of Kansas, we absolutely should be beating ourselves up when we fail. Marketing professor Noelle Nelson and her team found that the more emotional a person’s response is to failure, the more likely they are to achieve better results the next time they deal with a related task.
The researchers carried out two experiments in which undergraduate students were required to perform specific tasks. In one experiment, they were asked to search online for a squeezer and report the lowest price they could find with the possibility of winning a $50 cash prize. However, the task was controlled, and all participants were told (by a computer) that the lowest price was $3.27 less than their reported price. Consequently, no participant won the cash prize. When the results were announced, some participants were asked to focus on their emotional response, and others on their cognitive (认知的) response. During the next similar task, participants who focused on their emotional response to failure made more effort than those who focused on a cognitive response.
Everybody has their own unique challenges, responsibilities, duties, and projects, but these findings are related to all of us. Your personal failure may be a cake that fails to rise, a presentation that goes wrong, or a deadline that gets missed—it doesn’t matter. What matters is how you react to it. Instead of thinking about the failure, let yourself feel bad about it. Then follow this advice on how to bounce back after your failure.
1. What’s the relationship between failure and success?A.Failure promises success. | B.Failure is the key to success. |
C.Failure does damage to success. | D.Well-handled failure is good for success. |
A.It’s a well-meaning suggestion for failure. |
B.It’s been proved by the study of a university. |
C.Being emotional is good for one’s future success. |
D.It can make people less emotional about failure. |
A.To test the participants’ abilities to search online. |
B.To improve the participants’ cognitive response. |
C.To teach the participants to avoid failures. |
D.To test the benefit of emotional response to failure. |
A.Personal Failure Is a Cake That Fails to Appear |
B.The Most Productive Way to Handle Any Failure |
C.Different Methods to Change Failure into Success |
D.The Reason Why Failure Is the Mother of Success |
4 . “This world is so unfair!” my daughter shouted as soon as she entered the door. It turned out that she was caught talking with others while having a math class. And finally she was punished by the teacher. “There were other students talking in class, but the teacher only punished me,” she said angrily.
I asked her, “Should you be punished for speaking when your teacher is in class?” She nodded but also defended, “It is unfair for me because the teacher didn’t punish the other students who spoke!” “Let’s just talk about you. Was the teacher wrong to punish you?” I asked again. She lowered her head and said, “No.”
“That’s fair!” I said. “You know what the price of speaking in class is. You did it and got the punishment you deserved (应得). The teacher didn’t punish others because she could choose to forgive (原谅). From your point of view, it seems unfair, but for those students she has forgiven, there’s no unfairness. It depends on from which angle (角度) you look at the thing.”
People are often like this. When they look at themselves, they are very clear about what they are doing, knowing what their prizes and punishments should be, but they think differently after looking at others. Because comparison with others makes people confused and even becomes a stumbling block (绊脚石) in their life. The most important thing is to understand fairness in a deeper way, not from your point of view only!
1. Whom was the girl punished by that day?A.Her mother. | B.Her father. |
C.Her classmates. | D.Her math teacher. |
A.Because she argued with her teacher. |
B.Because her mother disagreed with her. |
C.Because she had a fight with a classmate. |
D.Because she was the only one to be punished. |
A.建议 | B.辩解 | C.盼望 | D.承诺 |
A.Fair. | B.Wise. | C.Unfair. | D.Common. |
A.We should pay less attention to unfairness. |
B.It’s good to compare ourselves with others. |
C.We should understand fairness in a deeper way. |
D.We should always be clear about what we are doing. |
69% of the travelers try to put down their smartphones on vacation. | 1/3 of Americans always spend their time on the phone on holiday. | 16% of UK travelers always check their phones on vacation. | Most important objects USA: Mobile phone AUS: Camera UK: Sunscreen | ||
Holidays booking (预订) | |||||
3/4 of the travelers prefer to book trips online. | 84% of Americans say they are most likely to book online. | 3% of Australians book travel by phone. |
根据材料内容选择最佳答案。
1. What do one third of Americans always do during trips?
A.They always try to put down their phones. |
B.They always use a lot of sunscreens. |
C.They always take cameras with them. |
D.They always spend time on the phone. |
A.two | B.three | C.four | D.five |
A. | B. | C. | D. |
①From social media users.
②From other travelers’ reviews.
③From family and friends.
④From travel companies.
⑤From travel guides.
A.①④ | B.②⑤ | C.②③ | D.④⑤ |
A.The text is written to change travelers’ habits. |
B.UK travelers use mobile apps the least during trips. |
C.Sunscreen is the most important object for a US traveler. |
D.Most travelers like to communicate with their friends on vacation. |
6 . We believe you will really make use of our list of the best jobs for students with no experience.
Tutor
Pay per hour: $17.28
This is a great job for all the great minds out there who have some knowledge they can share. You don’t even have to leave the house, as many students ask for tutors online. If you are good at math or English, for example, consider getting cash for your knowledge.
Lifeguard
Pay per hour: $9.18
And now something for those who like swimming, and don’t mind a huge responsibility. Even though you don’t have to have work experience as a lifeguard, you must have a lifeguard training. It is a serious job, but also fun, as you get to enjoy all day in the sun, and next to the pool or beach.
Catering staff
Pay per hour: $12.04
If you enjoy being around delicious food, you can look for a job among catering staff. It offers a reliable pay, and it is not too tough. It is interesting, as you get to serve various types of people at various events.
Front desk receptionist
Pay per hour: $11.89
Another position for those who have good communication and organization skills, and those who don’t mind office jobs. There are many places where you can work, including fitness and spa centers. And working in a spa center may have its benefits in the form of discounts for employees.
1. How much can you earn by working four hours a day as a tutor?A.About $67. |
B.About $69. |
C.About $72. |
D.About $74. |
A.Cooking a dinner for guests. |
B.Tasting all kinds of delicious foods. |
C.Giving performances at a gathering. |
D.Providing food and drinks at different events. |
A.get some extra tips |
B.spend all day in the sun |
C.take on a huge responsibility |
D.enjoy body care at a low price |
7 . If it seems like all your friends have smartphones,you may be on to something. A new report by Common Sense Media, which reports on technology and media for children, found that by the age of 11, more than half of kids in the US have their own smartphone. By age 12, more than two-thirds do, and by 14, teens are just as likely as adults to own a smartphone. Some kids start much younger. Nearly 20% of 8-year-olds have their own smartphone!
Well, I study the effects of media and technology on kids, and I’m here to say that there is no single right answer to this question. The best I can offer is this: When both you and your parents feel the time is right.
Here are some points to consider to help you and your parents make this decision.
Be responsible. Have you shown that you are generally responsible? Do you understand the value of money, and can you save up to buy things you want?
Keep safe. Do you travel to or from school or after-school activities without an adult? This is when phones often go from a “want” to a “need”. Sometimes parents report that they feel better knowing they can reach their children directly, and that their kids can reach them, too.
Be careful. Do you treat your friends with kindness and respect? Do you know the fact that once something goes out onto the web, it can never truly be deleted (删除)?
When you have a smartphone, your parents are the No. I most important influence in your life. If parents use their phones all day, guess what? Their children probably will be like that, too.However, if parents have smartphone habits like putting the phone away during meals, that will go a long way toward helping kids develop the same habits.
1. What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?A.The benefit of the phone. | B.The need for the phone. |
C.The right age for the use of the phone. | D.The way of using the phone? |
A.keep in touch with their parents | B.get some information online |
C.chat with their friends online | D.send messages to their friends |
A.Teach their children to use phones. | B.Use their phones as little as possible. |
C.Control their children’s using phones. | D.Set a good example for their children. |
A.The advantages of having a phone | B.How children use their phones |
C.How old children should be to get phones | D.The problems with children’s having phones |
8 . Joy Chapman,70, retired from work in 2018 but decided she’d never become a “boring” granny. She joined local gym and got herself a hard workout routine which sees her in the gym every day for two and a half hours. She said, “I was afraid of turning 70, but I don’t feel my age at all.”
As her confidence in the gym improved, she hardly spent a day without going to the gym. “When I first started, I would come home feeling tired,” she said. “Every muscle ached, but as I progressed, my fitness levels improved and I got better. I would never have believed in 100 years that I would love the gym so much.”
Joy said, “Working out and staying fit stops things from getting me down.” The granny has been longing for living since losing her husband in 2011, when he was just 58—making Joy realize life is valuable. She said, “My husband died very young and very quickly. He became ill in February, was diagnosed (诊断) in March and died on April 22. No one could believe it. Everybody was shocked at his death. When he died, it made me think deeply of my life and I am quite a confident and strong person as a result.”
Every day when she does her workouts, Joy meets up with a group of pals who help keep her young. She said, “I’ve made brilliant friends. As soon as I step in the gym, there is friendly humour with the receptionists, the trainers, the cleaner-everyone. They all think I’m mad, but in a nice way. I’m the fittest granny in the town. I’d advise other people in later life not to be scared by the gym. Give it a go, because it’s just great.”
1. What caused Joy to hardly feel her age?A.She worked out hard in a gym regularly. | B.She met with a lot of humorous friends. |
C.She never felt exhausted from workouts. | D.She was shocked at the loss of her husband. |
A.Exhausted. | B.Addicted. | C.Scared. | D.Bored. |
A.It made her strong to overcome the misfortune. | B.It helped her to live a regular life happily. |
C.It encouraged her to be kind and humorous. | D.It made her feel never bored at the age of 70. |
A.Meeting young people to keep yourself young. | B.Playing kind jokes with cleaners at the street. |
C.Having a try at the gym. | D.Making as many brilliant friends as you can. |
9 . Within the beautiful scenery of Wisconsin’s Lake Chippewa lies a natural wonder that is a unique challenge for the local community. This hidden wonder is exactly a giant floating island. The island, made up of plants and trees, sometimes floats around the lake, causing a major inconvenience by blocking (阻塞) an important bridge. Later, the local people came up with a solution to this problem. Every year, local boat owners work together and push the island away from the bridge.
Lake Chippewa was born in 1923 when a vast bog (沼泽) was changed through flooding. Soon after that, many of the dark bogs started rising to the surface and became perfect growing places for plants, with seeds carried by wind and wild birds to this floating place. Over the years, these bogs have grown plants and trees and turned into full islands. As time goes by, plants take root, and the oldest islands even have trees that act as sails (船帆) when the wind blows, moving the entire floating island around the lake.
Although the years-old floating island does not relocate (重新迁移) so often, when it does, it causes trouble for the community by blocking the important bridge that serves as the only passage between the lake’s East and West sides. The only solution is to gather a group of boats, and not just one or two, but dozens of boats working together to push the island away. “It takes a community’s effort, and you must have the winds at your back to push them in,” said a resident. Moving the island also requires precision (精确), as just relocating it a short distance may result in its return within days.
Some people have suggested destroying the floating islands to get rid of the problem. However, the big bog in Lake Chippewa has been around for many years, and during that time a variety of animal and plant species have made it their home. Therefore, local government advises they be dealt with in a way that won’t do harm to wildlife, paying more attention to the fine-drawn balance between human convenience and environmental protection. The annual tradition of relocating Lake Chippewa’s floating island is evidence to the coexistence of man and nature, a heartwarming display of community unity, and a reminder of the importance of preserving the unique areas that enrich our world.
1. What does the underlined word “solution” in paragraph 1 refer to?A.Building a new bridge. | B.Moving the floating island away. |
C.Transforming the vast bog. | D.Rebuilding the local community. |
A.The formation of the floating island. | B.The history of flooding in Lake Chippewa. |
C.The varieties of species in Lake Chippewa. | D.The impact of the wind on the floating island. |
A.It is usually finished within days. |
B.It is a must in cooperation and precision. |
C.It can only be carried out during windless days. |
D.It greatly disturbs the community residents’ lives. |
A.To save costs for local people. | B.To ensure the safety of residents. |
C.To improve the bond between communities. | D.To protect the wildlife species on the island. |
10 . How to Become a Lifelong Learner
There are no age limits when it comes to education. Being a lifelong learner is all about maintaining your curiosity and love for learning.
Identify your learning style. Everyone has a preferred way to approach information. Determine your own favorite learning style.
Read every single day.
Create something. Flexing your creative muscles can help you learn about yourself.
Teach others. Teaching is a wonderful way to learn a subject better and improve your own understanding of it. Conveying the information you absorb will help you process better.
As a saying goes, it is never too late to learn, so we should persist in lifelong learning.
A.Not all learning comes from outside you. |
B.Joseph Joubert once said that “To teach is to learn twice.” |
C.Here are some ways that you can keep chasing knowledge. |
D.Note what learning techniques are the most efficient for you. |
E.Even if it’s just a few pages, the habit will help you learn a ton. |
F.By equipping students with tools, teachers are helping them with their futures. |
G.Some people understand information better when it’s presented in a visual way. |