1 . If there was a subject at school that made me anxious, it was science. Maybe that’s because in my tenth grade, I couldn't understand my physics teacher's instructions, causing me to accidentally set fire to the classroom. So, when my husband and I decided to home-school our daughters, we made a deal: he would teach science, while I would handle everything else. But that’s not how things have been going these past few weeks, since my husband has been too busy to teach the girls.
Recently, while out on my morning hike before starting lessons, I noticed that the sky was a beautiful blue, and the air was filled with the sweet smell of flowers. That s why I decided that the day’s lessons would be taught outside, although I remembered that my daughters hadn't had any science classes from my husband for a while.
I returned to the house to get the girls ready. We headed up into the forest, settling ourselves by a pond that rarely has any visitors. My daughter Saoirse started to pick up pond weeds and catch frogs, while my other daughter Ula looked at me, waiting to be instructed. I handed her a drawing board and colored pencils. "We wait, "I told her, " and see if something comes along. In the meantime, just draw what's around you.”
We worked for more than an hour, hardly speaking. A bird flew across the water, and then settled in a front of a fallen tree. I quickly told Ula, worried that she’d not seen the creature. But she had, and she started drawing it. An hour later, she’d not finished her picture and I stared down at it. She drew the bird on her paper with amazing accuracy. But there was one other interesting fact about this drawing: she also drew me, sitting beside her.
I realized, as I stared at this child's drawing of us watching a bird, how I'd lived for 40 years, gathered 10 years of higher education, and never understood the foundation of science before this moment. The foundation of science is a sense of wonder; it isn't about accurately reciting words from a textbook. It is first and foremost about stepping outside our busy lives and amazing at the world around us.
1. How did the author feel about science when in school?| A．She was nervous about it. | B．She was fond of it. |
| C．She was confused about it. | D．She was eager for it. |
| A．the fallen tree | B．the forest |
| C．the bird | D．the picture |
| A．She's very outgoing. | B．She's good at observing. |
| C．She's very hard-working. | D．She shares interests with her sister. |
| A．Attention to accuracy. |
| B．Curiosity about the outside world. |
| C．Determination to find out the truth. |
| D．Ability to understand teachers' instructions. |
2 . Mom and dad — they’re two of the most important people in your life. You probably see at least one of them every day and over your lifetime, they influence you more than anyone else you meet.
Moms and dads need to care for their kids from the minute they’re born. It’s a parent’s job to love and help kids — and most parents will do this as possible as they can, even when the “kids” grow up and have children of their own. That means you have many years ahead to share with your mom and dad. Here are some ways you can stay close, get along, and build a strong relationship (关系):
Spend time together. Don’t play a computer game or watch TV by yourself. Ask your mom and dad to play with you, go outside together, play a game, or read a book out loud. Try to spend more time together.
Share your feelings and ask for help. Many kids say they’d like their parents to help them when they’re unhappy. Tell them if you’re sad or have a problem. They’ll be happy to help you.
Be kind and caring. Little things might mean a lot to your mom or dad. You can brighten a parent’s day with a hug, a card, or a joke. It’s also lovely when a kid cleans up his or her room without being asked. It’s important to show that you care for each other. Kids and parents show their love by respecting (尊重) each other, and being caring, polite and thoughtful.
Do your best at whatever you do. You don’t have to be perfect, but when you do your best, you make your parents proud. It makes them happy to see how you're turning into such a great kid. Why? Because it lets them know you’re doing a good job.
1. Your parents are two of the most important people in your life because they ______.| A．seldom see you | B．have duty to care for you |
| C．need your help | D．influence you more than anyone else |
| A．Watch TV by themselves. | B．Play a game alone. |
| C．Tell their parents and ask for help. | D．Say nothing to their parents. |
| A．使…紧张 | B．使…悲伤 | C．使…愉快 | D．使…忙碌 |
3 . One afternoon I toured an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was looking forward to a quiet view of the wonderful works.
A young couple viewing the paintings ahead of me chatted nonstop between themselves. I watched them a moment and decided she was doing all the talking. I admired his patience for tolerating her constant words. Disturbed by their noise, I moved on.
I encountered them several times as I moved through the various rooms of art. Each time I heard her constant talking, I moved away quickly.
I was standing at the counter of the museum gift store doing some shopping when the couple approached the exit. Before they left, the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He turned it into a long cane (手杖) and then tapped his way into the coatroom to get his wife’s jacket.
“He’s a brave man,” the clerk at the counter said, “Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age. During his recovery, he made a promise that his life wouldn’t change. So, as before, he and his wife come in whenever there’s a new art show.”
“But what does he get out of the art?” I asked, “He can’t see.”
“Can’t see! You’re wrong. He sees a lot. More than you or I do,” the clerk said, “His wife describes each painting so he can see it in his head.”
I learned something about patience, courage and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without sight and the courage of a husband who would not allow blindness to change his life.
And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away arm in arm.
1. Which of the following statements is true?| A．The husband was doing all the talking when the couple viewed the works. |
| B．The husband tapped his way to the coatroom to get his own jacket. |
| C．The husband was considered a brave man by the clerk at the store. |
| D．The husband allowed blindness to change his life. |
| A．cheated | B．met |
| C．talked | D．argued |
| A．the man had his eyes blinded in a fight |
| B．the man can see very well while visiting the museum |
| C．the woman was very patient and devoted to his husband |
| D．the man often wasted time by visiting exhibitions |
4 . My teenage son Karl became withdrawn after his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him. But the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year. At this rate he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked.
One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and begged for help. “Please God, I can’t do any thing more for my son. I’m at the end of my rope. I’m giving the whole thing up to you.”
I was at work when I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster. “I want to talk to you about Karl’s absences.” Before he could say another word, I cried and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. “I love my son but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It’s out of nay hands. ”For a moment there was silence on the other end of the line. The headmaster seriously said, “Thank you for your time”, and hung up.
Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades. Finally, he even made the honor roll. In his fourth year, I attended a parent-teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were astonished at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home, he said, “Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?” I nodded. “That was me. I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That's when I knew I had to make you proud.”
1. There was silence on the other end of the line because __________| A．the speaker was too moved to say anything to the mother |
| B．the speaker was not listening |
| C．the speaker had gone away |
| D．the speaker was unable to speak |
| A．he was even on the list to be punished |
| B．he was even on the list of students who were lazy |
| C．he was even on the list of students who were always late for school |
| D．he was even on the list of the best students at school |
| A．Children in single-parent families often have mental problems. |
| B．School education doesn’t work without full support from parents. |
| C．Being understood by parents is very important to teenagers. |
| D．Mother’s love plays an important role in teenagers’ life. |
| A．great | B．foolish |
| C．stupid | D．dishonest |
When your Laker dream comes true tomorrow， you need to figure out a way to invest in the future of your family． This sounds simple， and you may think it's a no﹣brainer， but take some time to think on it further．
I said INVEST．
I did not say GIVE
Let me explain．
Purely giving material things to your siblings（兄弟姐妹） may appear to be right decision． So you buy them a car， a big house， pay， all of their bill． You want them to live a beautiful comfortable life， right？
But the day will come when you realize that as much as you believed you were doing the right thing， you were actually holding them back．
You will come to understand that you were taking care of them because it made YOU feel good， it made YOU happy to see them smiling and without a care in the world ﹣ and that was extremely selfish of you． While you were feeling satisfied with yourself， you were slowly eating away at their own dreams and ambitions． You were adding material things to their lives， but subtracting the most precious gifts of all．
Invest in their future， don't just give．
Use your success， wealth and influence to put them in the best position to realize their own dreams and find their true purpose． Put them through school， set them up with job interviews and help them become leaders in their own right． Hold them to the same level of hard work and dedication that it took for you to get to where you are now， and where you will eventually go．
I'm writing you now so that you can begin this process immediately， and so that you don't have to deal with the hurt and struggle of weaning（断绝） them off of the addiction that you facilitated That addiction only leads to anger， hatred and jealousy from everybody involved， including yourself．
As time goes on， you will see them grow independently and have their own ambitions and their own lives， and your relationship with all of them will be much better as a result．
Trust me， setting things up right from the beginning will avoid a ton of tears and headache， some of which remains to this day．
Much love，
1. What might be the best title of his letter？| A．To My Younger Self |
| B．For My Dear Family |
| C．To My Beloved Son |
| D．For My Older Self |
| A．Independence and growth |
| B．wealth and health |
| C．love and dedication |
| D．success and leadership |
| A．The writer will stop offering his siblings help in the future． |
| B．The writer didn't think it a good fortune to become successful early． |
| C．The writer intends to remind others not to care too much about materials |
| D．The writer was once troubled by the relationship between him and his family． |
6 . One of the most important things in the world is friendship. In order to have friends, you have to be a friend. But how can you be a good friend at school?
Listen - Listen when they are talking. Don’t say anything unless they ask you a question. Sometimes it’s not necessary for you to have anything to say; they just need someone to talk to about their feelings.
Help them - If your friend is ever in need of something, be there to help them. You should try to put them first, but make sure you don’t do everything they want you to do. Try to take an extra (额外的) pencil or pen with you to classes in case (以防) they forget one. Have a little extra money in your pocket in case they forget something they need.
Be there for them - Try to make something for your friend to help make them feel better in hard times. Making cards and encouraging them are among the nicest things you can do for a friend. Marilyn Monroe, a famous U.S. actor, once said, “I often make mistakes. Sometimes I am out of control. But if you can’t stay with me at my worst, you are sure not to deserve (值得) to be with me at my best.” Always remember this! If you don’t want to stay with your friends when they’re in hard times, then you don’t deserve to be with them when they’re having a good time!
______ Try to make plans with your friends. Go shopping, go for ice cream, have a party, go to a movie and so on. Take time to know each other even better by doing something you both enjoy. By planning things together, you both can have a good time. And you’ll remember these things when you’re all old!
1. While your friend is talking to you about his or her feelings, you should _____.| A．give him or her some advice | B．just listen unless asked |
| C．calm him or her down | D．share your feelings as well |
| A．try to do everything for them | B．ignore their faults |
| C．change their bad habits first | D．put them before ourselves |
| A．Life without a friend is death. | B．A friend is easier lost than found. |
| C．A friend in need is a friend indeed. | D．A man is known by his friends. |
| A．Make plans. | B．Enjoy yourself. |
| C．Understand your friends. | D．Play with your friends. |
| A．How to find a good friend. | B．How to help friends in trouble. |
| C．How to be a good friend. | D．How to make more friends. |
7 . How to Recognize a True Friend
Sometimes it can be hard to recognize a true friend. Hopefully this article will help you recognize which friends are the keepers.
Be able to trust your friends. You should be able to trust true friends and they should return this trust. Do your friends tell you secrets that no one else knows? Ask you for advice?
Think about loyalty(忠诚).
Think about nicknames. A lot of true friends love to give each other nicknames！ If your friend is giving you nicknames, then this is a great sign. Think of the nickname your friend has given you, does it suit you well?
Look at how you fight. Nearly all best friends fight.
| A．Consider comfort. |
| B．Choose your friends carefully. |
| C．True friends are always there for one another. |
| D．Both are sure signs that your friend trusts you. |
| E．If so, this shows your friend must know you quite well. |
| F．So if you and your friend have a little argument, don’t worry! |
| G．An inside joke shows that you share a special connection with your friend. |
8 . Everyone needs friends.There is an old saying, "Friends are God’s way of taking care of us." But how do you find real friendship and keep it?
The American writer Sally Seamans tells young students some smart ways to make friends.Sally says finding friendship is just like planting a tree.You plant the seed(种子)and take care of it to make it grow.
First, you should choose a friend.What makes a good friend? It is not because a person has money or good looks.A good friend should be kind and patient(耐心).For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend should listen to your complaints and do his best to help.To make a good friend, you cannot be too shy.You should make each other happy and share your lives.
But things cannot always be happy.Even the best friends have fights.What should you do when you have a fight with your friend? You have to talk to him or her.When there is no one around, have an honest talk.If he or she doesn't want to talk, you could write a letter.
There are three steps to being friends again:
Tell him or her how you are feeling; say what your friend has done wrong, and explain why you did this or that.Remember that friendship is the most important thing in your life.
1. Sally wants to tell students the ways to .| A．make friends | B．plant trees | C．get happy | D．keep fit |
| A．be lovely and cool | B．have good looks |
| C．have lots of money | D．be kind and patient |
| A．buy a present for | B．never say a word to |
| C．write a letter to | D．have dinner with |
| A．Teenagers and friendship. | B．Finding and keeping friendship |
| C．The trouble of growing up. | D．Good friends around you. |
9 . Let’s be honest, kids are weird. And when you hear your three-year-old arguing over who gets to be the mom while playing ＂house＂ alone in the other room, you might question if you’ve done something wrong as a parent. But don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal for your child to have an imaginary friend, and it even has some benefits. While your kids are benefitting from playing with their imaginary friend, try out these other ways to raise an intelligent child!
One of the biggest pros is that it promotes creativity. Just think about it — you have to be kind of creative to carry on a conversation with an imaginary figure that doesn’t respond. Developmental psychologist Marjorie Taylor told PureWow that your children’s creativity will remain with them as they get older, even when they stop hanging out with their ＂friend＂.
Along with being more creative, they will also have a better developed and more diverse vocabulary as well as stronger social skills. Talking to ＂Sally＂ or ＂Bob＂ all day will allow them to practice their speech and conversation skills. Researchers at La Trobe University in Australia found that children who engage with their imaginary friends on a regular basis use more complex sentences and are more confident in everyday social situations.
There are also some benefits for the parents. If your child’s siblings aren’t around or they’re an only child, they have someone to entertain them while you take the time to chip away at your never-ending to-do list. So even though it might get old when your kids constantly ask you to set an extra plate at the table for their imaginary friend, they’ll benefit in the future from keeping them around. Having an extra member of the family can’t be that bad, the more the merrier, right?
1. Who is the three-year-old talking to while playing ＂house＂ alone?| A．His toy. | B．His mother. |
| C．His ＂friend＂. | D．He himself. |
| A．It helps children develop better. |
| B．It relieves busy parents’ worry. |
| C．It shows children’s loneliness. |
| D．It connects the family closer. |
| A．Taking their children to play outside. |
| B．Sparing their time for their children. |
| C．Adding an extra member of their family. |
| D．Letting their children play while at work. |
One day, as I was getting her food, she chewed up(咬破)one of Dad’s shoes, which had to be thrown away in the end. I knew Dad would be mad and I had to let her know what she did was wrong. When I looked at her and said, “Bad girl,” she looked down at the ground and then went and hid. I saw a tear in her eyes.
Brownie turned out to be more than just our family pet. She went everywhere with us. People would stop and ask if they could pat her. Of course she’d let anyone pat her. She was just the most lovable dog. There were many times when we’d be out walking and a small child would come over and pull on her hair. she never barked(吠) or tried to get away. Funny thing is that she would smile. This frightened people because they thought she was showing her teeth. Far from the truth, she loved everyone.
Now many years have passed since Brownie died of old age. I still miss days when she was with us.
1. What would Brownie do when someone was ill in the family?
| A．Look at them sadly. | B．Keep them company. |
| C．Play games with them. | D．Touch them gently. |
| A．would eat anything when hungry |
| B．felt sorry for her mistake |
| C．loved playing hide-and-seek |
| D．disliked the author’s dad |
| A．She was treated as a member of the family. |
| B．She played games with anyone she liked. |
| C．She was loved by everybody she met. |
| D．She went everywhere with the family. |
| A．smiled | B．barked. |
| C．rushed to them | D．tried to be funny |
| A．Shy. | B．Polite. | C．Brave. | D．Caring. |
