When my parents were in trouble at Christmas, our neighbors taught me the true value of kindness. I grew up on the 50-acre farm in the small country community in Missouri, as the sixth of seven children. My parents were hard working farmers and paid regular visits to the farm growing crops. During meals they often talked about how everything on the table except the sugar and flour came from the land. Although we were not rich, they were eager to help others and would make donations to the needy every year.
Besides running the farm, Dad was also a carpenter. However, unfortunately, in the fall of 1970 as he was working on the house, the ladder broke. He fell off the ladder and his back was fractured (使断裂) in two places. He suffered from great pain. Misery and worry took over our family as well. He stayed in hospital for three weeks with his head and feet down, permitting his back to be straight again.
On Thanksgiving day, dad was still in hospital. We always butchered pigs the day after the holiday, and that year my uncle showed up with a couple of cousins to help my three elder brothers prepare our year’s supply of pork.
After Dad returned home, he was not in a good situation and unable to work. I was too young to realize our family had no money coming in and could hardly make ends meet as Christmas approached.
One night we heard a car coming up the long driveway. Growing up in the faraway farm, we kids were curious about who was visiting. As it turned out, Peggy, one of our neighbors, was at the door, holding an envelope filled with money. She told my dad she had collected money in the community and was there to deliver it.
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150词左右;
2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好;
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Dad rejected the money when Peggy handed it to him.
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At Peggy’s insistence and persuasion Dad finally accepted.
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2 . What comes into your mind when you think of British food? Probably fish and chips, or a Sunday dinner of meat and two vegetables. But is British food really so uninteresting? Even though Britain has a reputation for less-than-impressive cuisine, it is producing more top class chefs who appear frequently on our television screens and whose recipe books frequently top the best seller lists.
It’s thanks to these TV chefs rather than any advertising campaign that Britons are turning away from meat-and-two-veg and ready-made meals and becoming more adventurous in their cooking habits. It is recently reported that the number of those sticking to a traditional diet is slowly declining and around half of Britain’s consumers would like to change or improve their cooking in some way. There has been a rise in the number of students applying for food courses at UK universities and colleges. It seems that TV programmes have helped change what people think about cooking.
According to a new study from market analysts, 1 in 5 Britons say that watching cookery programmes on TV has encouraged them to try different food. Almost one third say they now use a wider variety of ingredients (配料) than they used to, and just under 1 in 4 say they now buy better quality ingredients than before. One in four adults say that TV chefs have made them much more confident about expanding their cookery knowledge and skills, and young people are also getting more interested in cooking. The UK’s obsession (痴迷) with food is reflected through television scheduling. Cookery shows and documentaries about food are broadcast more often than before. With an increasing number of male chefs on TV, it’s no longer “uncool” for boys to like cooking.
1. What do people usually think of British food?| A．It is simple and plain. | B．It is rich in nutrition. |
| C．It lacks authentic tastes. | D．It deserves a high reputation. |
| A．Authoritative. | B．Creative. | C．Profitable. | D．Influential. |
| A．20%. | B．24%. | C．25%. | D．33%. |
| A．The art of cooking in other countries. | B．Male chefs on TV programmes. |
| C．Table manners in the UK. | D．Studies of big eaters. |
| A．Dr. White. | B．Dr. Mildens. | C．Prof. Brookings. |
1. Where is Lisa?
| A．Liverpool. | B．London. | C．Paris. |
| A．Reporters. | B．Advertisers. | C．Sales representatives. |
| A．2,500 pounds. | B．3,000 pounds. | C．3,500 pounds. |
6 . How do you feel about exams? Is it the one thing you dread or an experience you relish because it’s your time to shine? Every year, many young people sit exams and whether they love or loathe them, most of them will face some anxiety in the lead up to the big day.
If you’re anxious about your exams, don’t worry, you’re not alone. It might seem like a stressful time when the pressure is onto pass that all-important test but take a deep breath and absorb some good advice from people who’ve been through the same experience as you.
Eating the right food can feed your brain and keep you alert. Nutritional therapist Kerry Torrens recommends making breakfast the most important meal of the day. She recommends eating energy-giving oats and eggs, which contain a nutrient called choline - thought to help cognitive performance and improve memory as we age. And don’t forget to drink lots of water to keep you hydrated - some research even suggests students who take water into the exam hall may even improve their grades.
One thing I know I always need is a good night’s sleep to help me work and think better the next day and that’s what’s recommended for anyone preparing for their exams. If you get good sleep your memory is better and that means you can retain the information you have revised. And it’s good to wind down before bedtime too - no watching TV or chatting on social media!
A good way to reduce your stress is to write down your anxieties. This is something that Lisa Artis from the Sleep Council recommends because it can ‘free your mind’. She also says sitting on your bed when you’re cramming is not a good idea because then you associate that place with stress. Revising for exams can also sometimes seem relentless, so it’s good to take breaks and reward yourself will a small treat, like a cake or a quick run around the block. There comes a point when your brain can’t absorb any more information so you’ll also need to know when to stop.
But if all this talk about revising and exams is still stressing you out, be assured that there are some people who will always be more on edge than you: your parents! They’re there to support you but they’ll be biting their fingernails, worrying about you and the final results. So maybe you need to give them some advice - chill out, everything will be ok!
1. which can be the best title for the text?| A．eating a balanced diet before exams |
| B．having a good sleep before exams |
| C．dealing with exam stress properly |
| D．never worry about my study, parents |
| A．we should make breakfast by ourselves instead of eating out |
| B．eating the night food can contribute to a longer life |
| C．we’d better drink some water while taking exams |
| D．Most of us usually think little of breakfast |
| A．feeling at ease with your exam |
| B．revising on your bed before an exam |
| C．going out for a run in the neighborhood |
| D．turning to some students with the same experience |
| A．calm down |
| B．leave me alone |
| C．have a good sleep |
| D．take a deep breath |
7 . Surprise is the error signal our brains produce when something unexpected happens. It is a dopamine (多巴胺) trigger, producing the neurotransmitter (神经递质) that drives attention and motivation.
In his book The Power of Surprise, Rousell presents his finding from decades of his research:
Not all surprising moments are created equal. Rousell illustrates some research-backed steps to use surprise well.
Spot a self-criticism you’d like to help someone revise. For example, perhaps your student sees himself as a slow learner, or your employee believes he lacks creativity.
| A．Point out his weakness. |
| B．It was an essential adaptation for humans. |
| C．Identify the opposite side of the same coin. |
| D．Also, it will make less difference to one’s mind. |
| E．Here is an example the author shares in his book. |
| F．To put it simply, surprise is a big deal to our brains. |
| G．Surprise brings the experiences shaping who we believe we are. |
The little prince, who lived on a tiny planet, decided to visit his neighbor planets. The first of them was inhabited by a king. Dressed in purple and white fur, he was seated a throne(王座), both simple and majestic((庄严的).
“AH! Here is a subject(臣民)!” exclaimed the king, when he saw the little prince coming.
“How could he recognize me when he had never seen me before?” the little prince asked himself. He did not know the world is simplified for kings. To them, all men are subjects.
“Come a little closer so that I may see you better,” said the king, who felt very proud of being at last a king over someone
The little prince looked around to find a place to sit down, but the entire planet was covered by the king's magnificent robe (长袍). So he remained standing upright, and, since he was tired, he yawned(打哈欠)
“It is impolite to yawn in the presence of a king, said the king. "I forbid you to do so,”
“I can't help it,” replied the little prince in confusion. “I have come on a long journey and I haven’t slept at all…”
“In that case,” said the king, "l order you to yawn. I haven't seen anybody yawning for years. Yawns are a curiosity to me. Come, now! Yawn again. It's an order. "
“You are frightening me…I cannot yawn any more... said the little prince, completely embarrassed.
“Hum! Hum!” replied the king. “Then I order you sometimes to yawn and sometimes to…”
The king was annoyed for he thought his authority should be respected. He tolerated no disobedience. But as he was a very kind man, he made his orders reasonable.
But the little prince was puzzled. The planet was tiny. Over what could this king really rule?
“Sire,” he said to the king, "I beg that you will excuse my asking you a question…”
“I order you to put your question to me, the king was quick to reply.
“Sire... over what do you rule?"
“Over everything,” said the king very simply
The king made a sweeping gesture taking in his own planet, the other planets and the stars.
Realizing his rule was not only absolute, but also universal, the little prince marveled(感到惊奇) at such power. As he enjoyed sunsets very much, he plucked up his courage(鼓起勇气) to ask the king a favor.
“I should like to see a sunset. Please do me that kindness. Order the sun to set…”
“You shall have your sunset. I shall command it. But, according to my science of government. I shall wait until conditions are favorable(有利的).”
“Hum Hum!” replied the king, checking his big calendar. “It will. be around…around.. it will be this evening about twenty minutes to eight. And you shall see how well I am obeyed.”
The little prince yawned. He was regretting his lost sunset. And then, too, he was becoming a little bored.
“I have nothing more to do here,” he said to the king. "So I shall set out on my way.
“Do not go,” said the king, who was very proud of having a subject.” I'll make you a minister!”
And when will that be?" asked the little prince
“Minister of what?”
“Minister of…of Justice! (司法部长)
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“But there’s nobody here to judge!” said the little prince. ……
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But the little prince, having completed his preparations for departure(离开,启程) had no wish to hurt the feelings of the old king…….
