1 . In 1954, Eleanor - my grandma - in great need of income, walked into the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. There she convinced some of the greatest scientists that she was the perfect person for their ant collection.
As a teenager, Eleanor spent hours wandering around the halls of the American Museum of Natural History in New York, flipping through gift shop books about insect mounting (固定于载片上). But that was all her experience in the field.
During her job interview at Harvard, when Philip Darlington, an influential zoologist at that time, asked Eleanor about her specialty, she replied, “Oh, I like everything.”
“He probably realized right then that I have nothing special,” she says. She once worked in a hardware store in New York, and she had no typing skills to be a secretary. She had dropped out of the Tyler School of Fine Arts to marry. But that artistic background was a selling point for the Harvard Job, and she was hired on the spot.
Now artistic background are common for researchers. At that time, however, hiring a woman who had dropped out of art school was certainly a risk. It paid off, Eleanor’s job as a technician required the same quality that art school had demanded. She began each day at the museum mixing glue (胶水). Then she pulled the dead ants from the containers and set them out to dry. Some ants were small-barely 3 millimeters long-requiring patience and a careful hand. Eleanor needed to fix the ant bodies with a spot of glue and write a label for each of them.
The job required her to work quickly, yet correctly. “The average person never really hears about the expertise and the effort that goes into it.” said Wilson, an expert at the Museum. Rushing would risk ruining a rare specimen (标本), but Eleanor could process ants as quickly and many as 200 a day. Wilson said that she was the best technician who ever worked for him.
1. Why was Eleanor hired?| A．She once studied at an art school. |
| B．She’s married and in need of money. |
| C．She was interested in mounting insects. |
| D．She was experienced in the Museum career. |
| A．Eleanor’s payment. |
| B．Eleanor’s effort. |
| C．Eleanor’s artistic background. |
| D．Eleanor’s being hired. |
| A．To prove how painful Eleanor’s job is. |
| B．To highlight Eleanor’s outstanding ability. |
| C．To praise Eleanor’s bravery and creativity. |
| D．To provide evidence of Eleanor’s work process. |
| A．Ambitious. | B．Emotional. | C．Creative. | D．Skillful. |
2 . Chase Poust is a 7-year-old boy. He and his dad Steven, as well as his 4-year-old sister, Abigail were out for a family boating trip on Florida’s St. Johns River near Mandarin Point. Chase and Abigail were swimming at the back end of the anchored (停泊的) boat while Steven was on deck fishing.
It was a pleasant outing—until a strong wave came. It was too strong for Abigail to hold onto the boat. Instantly realizing his sister would be swept away, Chase let go of the boat as well to try and reach her.
Steven jumped into the water but after realizing he couldn’t keep up with both kids, he was faced with a hard decision, “I told them loved them because I wasn’t sure what’s going to happen,” Steven told News-4 JAX. “I tried to stick with both of them. I wore myself out. She drifted away from me.”
Directing Chase lo swim to shore for help, Steven stayed behind, keeping as close as he could to Abigail as the life-vest that was keeping her above the waves floated further and further from his reach.
It was a tough go for the 7-year-old but rather than attempting to swim all out, Chase wisely paced himself. Stopping to float or dog paddle when he was tired, he’d rest and then set off again. It took Chase an hour to reach the shore. Once on solid ground, he ran to the nearest house and called for help.
Rescuers arrived soon to search for Steven and Abigail. Miraculously, the two were found and rescued about an hour later—more than a mild away from the family’s abandoned boat.
1. What happened during the family boating trip?| A．Chase went out fishing one. | B．The boat ran into an anchored boat. |
| C．Steven fell off the boat by accident. | D．Abigail was washed away by a wave. |
| A．He couldn’t stay close to both kids. | B．He didn’t know how to swim. |
| C．He couldn’t find rescuers nearby. | D．He wasn’t sure what might happen. |
| A．To hold Abigail tightly. | B．To look for helpers. |
| C．To wait calmly in the water. | D．To give the life-vest to Abigail. |
| A．Brave and clever. | B．Innocent and kind. |
| C．Proud and patient. | D．Honest and helpful. |
3 . For my 56th birthday, my daughter, Beth, bought me two beautifully carved wooden butterflies. I hung them in prominent (显眼的) places on my walls so that I can see them often during the day. Each time I do so, they give me a wonderful reminder of love.
My daughter and my love of butterflies goes back many years. After a long battle against cancer, my mom passed away when I was only 25 years old. Beth was only a baby at the time and never got to have any memories of her grandma. I tried to make up for it by telling her stories of my mom but each time I did, I could see that there was a little sadness in Beth’s eyes. One day when she was only seven or so we were outside at the playground. Beth suddenly said how much she saddened not having her grandma around. Well, sometimes I comforted her and this time I told her how much her grandma loved her and that Grandma still remained positive in the last weeks of her life. I said she was watching over her from Heaven and that maybe she was even hitching (搭乘) a ride on the back of a butterfly to come down and get a closer look. At that very moment, a butterfly appeared flying around Beth’s face and then flew away. We both laughed with our hearts full of love and joy.
Since that moment all of those years ago, both Beth and I seem to attract butterflies like flowers. Whenever we are outside, they seem to fly down, circle around us, take a good look, and then fly away. And every time, we are reminded of my mom’s love watching over us. The only time this doesn’t happen is during the coldest months of the year when there are no insects of any kind. But now during those times I can take a look at the two beautiful wooden butterflies my daughter bought me and still be reminded of that love.
1. Why did Beth buy wooden butterflies?| A．To celebrate the new year. |
| B．To decorate her bedroom. |
| C．To celebrate her mother’s birthday. |
| D．To remind her childhood. |
| A．Tough and optimistic. |
| B．Enthusiastic and helpful. |
| C．Independent and reliable. |
| D．Knowledgeable and respectable. |
| A．Terrified. | B．Confused. | C．Joyful. | D．Nervous. |
| A．Wooden butterflies are of great artistic value. |
| B．We all need reminders that we are loved in our life. |
| C．It is difficult to maintain family ties during difficult times. |
| D．The presence of parents is important to children’s development. |
4 . Growing up, I remember my father as a silent, serious man — not the sort of person around whom one could laugh. As a teenager arriving in America, knowing nothing, I wanted a father who could explain the human journey. In college, when friends called home for advice, I would sink into deep depression for what I did not have.
Today, at twenty-seven, I have come to rediscover them in ways that my teenage mind would not allow — as adults and as friends with their own faults and weaknesses.
One night after my move back home, I overheard my father on the telephone. There was some trouble. Later, Dad shared the problem with me. Apparently my legal training had earned me some privileges(特权) in his eyes. I talked through the problem with Dad, analyzing the purposes of the people involved and offering several negotiation skills. He listened patiently before finally admitting, “I can’t think like that. I am a simple man.”
Dad is a brilliant scientist who can deconstruct(解构)the building blocks of nature. Yet human nature is a mystery to him. That night I realized that he was simply not skilled at dealing with people, much less the trouble of a conflicted teenager. It’s not in his nature to understand human desires.
And so, there it was — it was no one’s fault that my father held no interest in human lives while I placed great importance on them. We are at times born more sensitive, wide-eyed, and dreamy than our parents and become more curious and idealistic than them. Dad perhaps never expected me for a child. And I, who knew Dad as an intelligent man, had never understood that his intelligence did not cover all of my feelings.
It has saved me years of questioning and confusion. I now see my parents as people who have other relationships than just Father and Mother. I now ignore their many faults and weaknesses, which once annoyed me.
I now know my parents as friends: people who ask me for advice; people who need my support and understanding. And I’ve come to see my past clearly.
1. What was the author’s impression of her father when she was a teenager?| A．Friendly but irresponsible. | B．Intelligent but severe. |
| C．Cold and forceful. | D．Caring and communicative. |
| A．She did not have a phone to call home. |
| B．Her father did not care about her human journey. |
| C．Her father was too busy to answer her phone. |
| D．Her father couldn’t give her proper advice. |
| A．he blamed her for impoliteness |
| B．he rediscovered human nature |
| C．he consulted with her about his problem |
| D．he changed his attitude towards the author |
| A．her father had too many faults and weaknesses |
| B．her father was not as intelligent as she had thought |
| C．her father was not good at interpersonal relationships |
| D．her father placed too much importance on social activities |
5 . True love is happiness. True love is sharing your world with your dearest. How do you turn friendship into love? Is there a fine line between the two?
Be considerate and thoughtful towards the person.
Whatever the situation is, put yourself in your friends’ shoes. If they are in trouble, help them out.
If you’re really good friends with some people, go into town to catch a coffee, invite them on walks, or just invite them to your house for a bit of a catch-up. The possibilities are endless. Just make sure you know them well enough to feel comfortable having deep conversations and sharing your world with them. You don’t want them to be creeped out (爬出) with your sudden eagerness and interest.
Help them out once in a while.
Be caring and friendly.
Try not to have any arguments, even though they can easily happen. Don’t ever cheat and always look your best for them.
| A．Make eye contacts with them. |
| B．Spend plenty of time with them. |
| C．If they are happy, be happy with them. |
| D．Respect them and be friendly to them. |
| E．Here is a simple guide to seeking true love. |
| F．Have opinions, express your views and be a real friend. |
| G．If they’re struggling at school, go over a few topics with them. |
6 . My father loves his garden. He planted some seeds in it. But at that time, I didn’t understand why working in the dirt excited him so much.
Unfortunately, in early May, my father was seriously injured in an accident. He had to stay in bed for a while. My mother had several business trips, so she couldn’t take care of the garden. I didn’t want my father to worry, so I said that I would take care of his garden until he recovered. I assumed that the little plants would continue to grow as long as they had water, and luckily it rained fairly often, so I didn’t think much about the garden.
One Saturday morning, my father said to me, “Christine, the vegetables should be about ready to be picked. Let’s have a salad today!” I went out to the garden and was upset to see that many of the lettuce leaves and carrots had been half eaten by bugs. There were hundreds of bugs all over them!
I panicked for a moment but then I quietly went to the nearest store to buy some vegetables. When I gave the salad to him, he said, “Oh, Christine, what a beautiful salad! I can’t believe the carrots are this big already. You must be taking very good care of my garden.” I felt a little bit guilty.
Coming home, my mother saw the bag from the supermarket in the kitchen. I was embarrassed, and I admitted Dad wanted a salad but the garden was a disaster. I didn’t want to disappoint him so I went to the store. She laughed but promised to help me in the garden and weeks later I was finally able to pick some vegetables.
I carefully made a salad and took it to my father. He looked at it with a hint of a smile, “Christine, the carrots are smaller in this salad, but they taste better.”
Now, I better understand how putting a lot of effort into caring for something can help you appreciate the results more, however small they may be. Perhaps this was one of the reasons for my father’s love of gardening.
1. Why did Christine originally promise she would do the gardening?| A．She was asked by her father to do it. | B．She was interested in growing vegetables. |
| C．She knew it was important to her father. | D．She wanted to improve her gardening skills. |
| A．Insects destroyed the lettuce and carrots. | B．Animals often dug holes in the garden. |
| C．The plants were given too much water. | D．The vegetables were marked incorrectly. |
| A．Her mother helped her to buy the vegetables. |
| B．Her mother regularly helped her to make a salad. |
| C．Her father couldn’t see the progress of the vegetables in his garden. |
| D．Her father went on a business trip at that time. |
| A．Always get ready for a rainy day. | B．Don’t be disappointed by bugs. |
| C．Working alone produces results. | D．Hard work can often be rewarding. |
7 . Some people think only school children do not agree with their parents, however, it is not true. Communication is a problem for parents and children of all ages. If it’s hard for you to communicate with your parents, don’t worry about it. Here are some suggestions for you to bridge generation gap.
Don’t argue with your parents. Don’t get to your parents when you are angry. Your parents probably won’t consider your ideas if you are shouting at them. You can’t express yourself well if you are angry. Go to some place to cool off. Make sure you understand why you are unhappy. Then think about what you want to say to your parents. If you don’t think you can speak to them at the moment, try writing a letter.
Try to reach a compromise. Perhaps you and your parents disagree on something. You can keep your disagreement and try your best to accept each other. Michael’s mother didn’t agree with him about buying a car. They argued over it, but finally they came to a compromise. Michael bought the car, but only drove it on certain days.
Of course your parents might refuse to compromise on something. In these situations, it is especially important to show love and respect to them. Showing respect will keep your relationship strong.
Talk about your values. The values of your parents are probably different from those of your own. Tell your parents what you care about, and why. Understanding your values might help them see your purposes in life.
A good relationship with your parents can make you a better and happier person. It is worth having a try.
1. From the passage we know ________ have a communication problem.| A．teachers and students | B．parents and children of all ages |
| C．parents and their school children | D．children and other people |
| A．shout at them | B．write a letter to them every time |
| C．call them on the phone | D．speak to them politely |
| A．make yourself happy | B．become angry |
| C．go away | D．make yourself quiet and relaxed |
| A．keep away from them |
| B．agree with them all the time |
| C．have a talk with them and make your values known to them |
| D．argue with them every time you have disagreements |
| A．there are serious problems in families today |
| B．parents and children have a generation gap |
| C．parents should love their children |
| D．there are some good ways to bridge the generation gap |
8 . I was raised in a house where my sisters and I weren’t trusted by our mother to manage our own appearance．As a result，there were rules，and trends were largely ignored. A few years ago，I was home for a visit when my mom，now in her early 70s，called me into her bedroom．We were about ready to leave for dinner．“I don’t know what to wear,” she complained. “You girls always look so good．”
I paused in the doorway and looked at her, wondering if I’d misheard．“What do you mean?” I asked her．“You know what to wear.” “No．”she answered．“I don’t．Can you pick something?” I was so surprised．
This was the same woman who，in 1989，told my younger sister she wasn’t allowed to leave the house wearing a pair of ripped(有破洞的)jeans；the same woman who，in high school，called me while l was out at a party to ask if my hair was up．“You look better with it down，”she told me，before I could answer. I realized，suddenly, that my mother—always so strong—not only wanted my opinion，but needed it．I pulled a pair of blue jeans from the closet and a light blue sweater from her drawer. “Wear this with your black shoes，”I told her．She did. My mother certainly doesn’t need anyone to take care of her．In fact，she still cares for my grandmother who lives with her．But with that one question，my mother and I started the role reversal(转变)that happens with all parents and all children，from caregiver to receiver．
Now, if I’m visiting or we’re together, it’s rare for her to wear anything without checking with me first．But every so often，it seems like she asks me just to be able to disagree with my answer and pick out something on her own．And when she does，I just tell her what I think of the way she looks. Sometimes it’s “great”．And sometimes it’s “awful.”
1. Which of the following is true according to the passage?| A．The author was very much afraid of her mother when she was young. |
| B．The author’s mother used to give advice on her daughters’ appearance. |
| C．The author was living with her mother right now. |
| D．The author’s mother wore all the clothes chosen for her. |
| A．felt happy to do something for her mother |
| B．was worried that her mother was too old to live alone |
| C．felt surprised but came to realize that her mother needed her care |
| D．was puzzled what was suitable for her mother |
| A．sometimes chooses to follow her own ideas |
| B．always accepts her suggestions happily |
| C．is often surprised by what the author says |
| D．still shows uncertainty about what to wear |
| A．show what it is like to have a strict mother |
| B．remind readers to visit their parents often |
| C．show how the role of parents and their children change |
| D．stress her mother’s great influence on her |
9 . Most people can’t live to 100.Those who do live so long can hardly walk, let alone take part in any activities. A few people, however, take part in dangerous activities even though they are more than 100 years old﹣They keep going and going! There is a great grandmother who likes challenging herself although she is 101 years old this year.
Mary Hardison believes that people should always be cheerful and more importantly, take on all kinds of adventures while they physically still can. So, instead of celebrating her 101st birthday with a boring party, she decided to go paragliding(滑翔跳伞)﹣an idea she got from her 75﹣year﹣old son who recently took it up as a hobby.
So on her birthday, cheered on by her big family, she tied herself up together with expert instructor Kevin Hintze, and jumped down fearlessly from the sky near her home in Ogden, Utah. And, it was not just a simple jump either. According to Kevin Hintze, the grandmother encouraged him to turn around, as they made their way down.
This is not the first time that Mary has done something “wild” and “crazy”. For her 90th birthday she rode all the adult rides at Disneyland. And, she is not done yet﹣For her 102nd birthday she hopes to go down the 3,000 feet Alpine Slide at Utah’s Park City Mountain Resort!
Not surprisingly, this great action has made Mary Hardison very famous and also earned her a place in the Guinness World Records where she broke a 2007 record set by a 100﹣year﹣old British woman. What an amazing lady!
1. What do we know about Mary Hardison？| A．She took up paragliding as her hobby at the age of 75. |
| B．She is the oldest woman in the Guinness World Records. |
| C．She was recorded in the Guinness World Records in 2007. |
| D．She is a 101﹣year﹣old lady who likes challenging herself. |
| A．A 100﹣year﹣old British woman. | B．Her 75﹣year﹣old son. |
| C．Her grandson. | D．Kevin Hintze. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Supportive. | C．Amazed. | D．Worried. |
| A．A 101-year-old lady’s Life Story |
| B．Paragliding Is Hot |
| C．How to Learn Paragliding |
| D．Never too Old to Learn Something New |
10 . I did not go on my first hike until my mid-30s. I could blame it on the fact that I grew up on the Great Plains of South Dakota and North Dakota. But mostly, to be honest, I just wasn't interested.
I went on my first hike a few years back while living in Vernont. At the urging of my wife, and with my two young kids, we walked a beautiful forest path on a cool August morning.
A few weeks ago, my 11-year-old son, my 61-year-old dad, and I hiked Camelbeack Mountain in Phoenix.
Now, just to be clear, by no means would I classify myself as an expert hiker. I love the stillness and calm of an empty path
| A．I've fallen in love with climbing mountains. |
| B．I carried a small backpack with water and snacks. |
| C．If you can climb a mountain, you can do anything. |
| D．I didn't see the value and always shook my head when asked. |
| E．It is healthy physical exercise that creates wonderful memories. |
| F．And I have no plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro or walk the Appalachian Trail. |
| G．Last weekend, I hiked down the Grand Canyon with my son along the South Kaibab Trail. |
