1 . I’ve been having trouble concentrating on one thing. It made school difficult for me. When everyone else in the class was focusing on tasks, I could not.
In my first literature class, Mrs. Smith asked us to read a story and then write on it, all within 45 minutes. I raised my hand right away and said, “Mrs. Smith, you see, the doctor said I have attention problems. I might not be able to do it.” She glanced down at me through her glasses, “You are not different from your classmates, young man.”
I tried, but I didn’t finish the reading when the bell rang. I had to take it home.
In the quietness of my bedroom, the story suddenly all became clear to me. It was about a blind person, Louis Braille. He lived in a time when the blind couldn’t get much education. But Louis didn’t give up. Instead, he invented a reading system of raised dots (点), which opened up a whole new world of knowledge to the blind.
Wasn’t I the “blind” in my class, being made to learn like the “sighted” students? My thoughts spilled out and my pen started to dance. I completed the task within 40 minutes. Indeed, I was not different from others; I just needed a quieter place. If Louis could find his way out of his problems, why should I ever give up?
I didn’t expect anything when I handed in my paper to Mrs. Smith, so it was quite a surprise when it came back to me the next day—with an “A” on it. At the bottom of the paper were these words: “See what you can do when you keep trying?”
Inspired and touched, I began to keep trying hard in my study and struggled against attention problems. I believe one can find his way out of difficulty with determination and efforts.
1. Why didn’t the author finish his reading in class?A.He missed the class. | B.He wanted to take it home. |
C.He was fed up with literature. | D.He couldn’t concentrate on his task. |
A.He should give up reading. | B.He has better hearing than him. |
C.He needs a quiet room to study. | D.He should make his own invention. |
A.Impatient. | B.Encouraging. | C.Sharp. | D.Shallow. |
A.Nothing is impossible for a willing mind. | B.Kind person ought to be well rewarded. |
C.Do not judge others’ disability. | D.Be eager for more knowledge. |
2 . “Meet me in the conference room with the contracts and a cup of coffee,” my boss barked at me. “Ten minutes. ”
I didn’t respond. I stood still as if my shoes had been glued to the floor. I had no intention of taking a cup of anything to anyone, supervisor or not.
I had seen with my own eyes what such behavior did to a woman. It happened to Mrs. Wilson next door. Old Mr. Wilson couldn’t put in his own false teeth without his wife’s assistance, let alone make himself lunch. It was a miserable union. I vowed by age eight that I would never live like her. I adopted the motto: Don’t help those who won’t help themselves.
I rushed to the file room and pulled my phone. I explained to my father what had happened and asked his advice on what to do, only to be asked back. He must have forgotten the unwritten rule between us about not answering a question with a question. Fortunately, I came up with an idea that would have the best of both worlds.
I took up the files and headed for the coffee pot. I took two cups and made two cups of coffee. Then I walked into the boss’ office with a cup of coffee in each hand. I handed my boss a cup of coffee and drank at the same time as him.
“Let’s take a break,” partway through the meeting, my boss stood, saying. “I need more coffee.” I picked up my empty cup. “I do, too,” I said, and handed it to him across the table. “Thanks,” I added, looking at him expectantly. The boss was staggered for a moment, and then took the cup from me.
When I finally left my boss’ office, I hid in the bathroom and called my dad. My father’s laughter on the phone made me feel even prouder.
1. Why does the author mention the Wilsons?A.To show how the couple grew old together. |
B.To picture what she will be like when she ages. |
C.To stress her opposition to inequality in society. |
D.To explain her unwillingness to serve the coffee. |
A.She meant to share instead of serving. |
B.She planned to have the boss serve her later. |
C.She intended to play a trick on her mean boss. |
D.She wanted to save the trouble of doing it again. |
A.Annoyed. | B.Shocked. | C.Confused. | D.Excited. |
A.She figured out how to show respect for her superior. |
B.She found it practical to seek solutions from her father. |
C.She took a sensible approach to standing up for herself. |
D.She considered it significant to fight against men bravely. |
That night, I quarreled with my mother, and then rushed out of the house. While on the road, I remembered that I did not have any money in my pocket. I did not even take my cell phone with me to make a call home.
At the same time, I went through a noodle shop, and I suddenly felt very hungry. I wished for a bowl of noodles, but I had no money!
The seller saw me standing before the counter and asked, “Hey, girl, you want to have the noodles?”
“Oh, yes... but I don’t have money on me...” she replied. “That’s nothing. I’ll treat you today,” said the man, “Come in.”
A few minutes later the owner brought me a steaming bowl of noodles. I thanked the man and started to gobblle (狼吞虎咽) up the delicious food...then I cried silently.
“What is it?” asked the man kindly.
“Nothing. I am just touched by your kindness!” I said as I wiped my tears. “Even a stranger on the street gives me a bowl of noodles, while my mother, after a quarrel, chased me out of the house. She showed no care for me. She is so mean and cruel!”
Hearing the words, the seller smiled “Girl, do you really think so? I only gave you a bowl of noodles and you thanked me a lot. But it is your mother who has raised you since you were a baby. why were you not grateful and why did you hurt your mom? You should say sorry to your mom.“
I was really surprised after hearing that.
Why did I not think of that? A bowl of noodles from a stranger made me feel grateful, and my mother has been taking care of me since I was little and I have never felt so, not even a little.
注意:
1. 续写词数应为 150 左右:
2. 续写部分分为两段,每段的开头语已为你写好;
Paragraph 1:
Just at that moment. many memories came back into my mind.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
When arriving home, I saw my mother sitting at the dinner table, worried and tired.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4 . An old man who was no longer strong and energetic decided to live with his son to spend the last fewer years of his life. The man was weak, his hands trembled and his eyesight was poor. The family ate together at table, but the old grandfather’s
Life was always not easy for the elderly. The son and his wife became
It’s an evening before supper, the father
A.shaky | B.steady | C.unhealthy | D.dirty |
A.interesting | B.difficult | C.amusing | D.convenient |
A.juice | B.soup | C.milk | D.water |
A.shocked | B.angry | C.disappointed | D.surprised |
A.anything | B.everything | C.nothing | D.something |
A.seriously | B.happily | C.sadly | D.slowly |
A.plastic | B.small | C.wooden | D.cheap |
A.way | B.sight | C.direction | D.situation |
A.dropped | B.threw | C.chose | D.touched |
A.peace | B.silence | C.danger | D.relief |
A.heard | B.kept | C.noticed | D.suggested |
A.replied | B.caught | C.hit | D.pushed |
A.attracted | B.struck | C.stuck | D.absorbed |
A.stream | B.go | C.fall | D.flood |
A.told | B.spoken | C.taught | D.written |
5 . Probably the biggest problem that Christmas brings to a girl is what to give her
ArthurStevens. Itwasn’t anything
Neither Robyn nor Arthur knew how much he could come to
At midnight, January 16, the Coast Guard Station received an
They found something that
Arthur Stevens, the thinnest of the three men and the
A.father | B.mother | C.teacher | D.friend |
A.something | B.everything | C.nothing | D.anything |
A.wishes | B.opportunities | C.gifts | D.options |
A.glove | B.plane | C.bucket | D.flashlight |
A.affordable | B.fancy | C.practical | D.portable |
A.mass produced | B.handmade | C.brand new | D.waterproof |
A.need | B.miss | C.buy | D.try |
A.instant | B.alarm | C.annoying | D.awaking |
A.across | B.over | C.on | D.under |
A.all | B.some | C.one | D.none |
A.jump | B.swim | C.fly | D.advance |
A.expectation | B.fear | C.warning | D.description |
A.confident | B.patient | C.desperate | D.curious |
A.embarrassed | B.amused | C.beat | D.amazed |
A.sea | B.river | C.lake | D.pool |
A.quickly | B.closely | C.slowly | D.badly |
A.floated | B.hung | C.frozen | D.thrown |
A.slowest | B.fastest | C.farthest | D.closest |
A.grasp | B.break | C.carry | D.lift |
A.hope | B.turn | C.sign | D.reward |
6 . Eighteen years ago, Terry Grahl, was pregnant with her fourth child. “Money was very tight,” Terry recalls. So when her mom called to ask if she’d like to go shopping at the local fabric (布料) store for the coming Christmas, she couldn’t say no because she knew she badly needed some fabrics to make new clothes for her children. “I remember walking around, gazing at all this beautiful fabric, wondering whether there is anything cheap that I could afford. And I could still get some money left to buy Christmas gifts for my family.”
Well, Terry’s mom must have known what Terry was thinking. Smiling kindly, she whispered to Terry, “You pick any fabrics you like. It’s your Christmas gift from me.” Terry’s eyes were filed with tears as the cart began to overflow with many fabrics, but not because Terry was planning on making herself a pretty dress or a pair of curtains for the kitchen. Rather, Terry’s mom’s kindness had inspired some holiday gift ideas in Terry, and it didn’t take long for Terry to figure out what she was going to do with all that fabric.
“I was going to make my first quilt (被子),” she explains. “Every night I would work on this queen-size quilt. With every stitch (一针), I thought about all that my mom had done for me over the course of my childhood, during which we were always battling homelessness, but Mom somehow managed to fill our lives with love and make everything okay.”
On Christmas day, just five days after her baby girl was born, Terry handed her mom a gift box. Inside was the quilt she had sewn, from the fabric her mother had given her as a gift.
1. What do we know about Terry eighteen years ago?A.Terry made a living by making clothes. | B.Terry had a bad relationship with her mom. |
C.Terry and her family lived a hard life at that time. | D.Terry often went shopping at the local fabric store. |
A.Strict. | B.Critical. | C.Faithful. | D.Considerate. |
A.The value of the fabric. | B.The responsibility for her family. |
C.The memory of her childhood. | D.The endless love from her mother. |
A.A Christmas Day | B.The First Quilt | C.Colorful Fabrics | D.Hard Childhood |
7 . When I was nine years old, I never dreamed that the small vending machine (自动售货机) I had owned would turn me into a small business owner. Wanting to inspire his daughter’ s business sense, my dad brought home a vending machine he had purchased from a friend. Setting it down in front of me in our living room, he asked in all seriousness, “Do you want to start a business?” I said yes.
I owned 15 vending machines by the time I left high school, with all of the profits going toward my college fund. In addition to being a great bonding experience for my family, I couldn't tell you how many skills I learned from starting and developing my own business that helped me gain responsibility. I learned that not every experience in life led to the comforting encouragement: Well, you were tried. You should face bravely all kinds of difficulties.
Understanding both personal and professional finances is one of the most important life lessons to learn—the earlier, the better. I had to be fearless and confident—learning these skills at a young age saved me from speaking with difficulty through presentations later in life. Truly understanding what you’re selling displays confidence and reliability, as does truly believing in it. Comprehending the ins and outs of your product and business shines through when speaking with clients though rejection (拒绝) happens all the time.
Throughout the unbelievable experience of running my own business in my childhood, I’ve learned valuable skills that help me in my school, job and personal life. I believe in the value of customer service. I go after clients and chances and understand that sometimes things don’t go my way. With the help of my parents and customers who supported me, I grew up as a young entrepreneur with skills to keep for the rest of my life.
1. Why did the author’s dad give her a vending machine?A.To earn her college fund. |
B.To raise her business awareness. |
C.To solve her friend’s financial problem. |
D.To remind her how hard it is for him to earn money. |
A.It was tough but worthwhile. | B.It was scary but smooth. |
C.It distanced her from her family. | D.It taught her how to refuse clients. |
A.Her attitude towards rejection. |
B.Her understanding of financial problems. |
C.Her insight into her business experience. |
D.Her vision of the future vending machines. |
A.One can succeed without support. |
B.One is never too old to run the business. |
C.Abilities acquired at a young age are useful in the future. |
D.Customer needs are always consistent with the enterprise. |
8 . I used to be the most determined resolution-maker. Every January 1st, I would dutifully sit down and write out my resolutions for the upcoming year. I always
The problem? I never accomplished those resolutions. I’d start out strong, but by February or March, I’d be out of willpower and I’d
Two years ago, I started experiencing severe stomach pain. The doctors
The experience completely changed my perspective on my life— especially about what I consider “success” and “failure.” Before, I always felt like I was
I understand the
A.achieved | B.picked | C.compared | D.missed |
A.shouted at | B.argued with | C.laughed at | D.bargained with |
A.settle | B.drop | C.circle | D.slide |
A.confused | B.annoyed | C.guilty | D.anxious |
A.performed | B.scheduled | C.completed | D.invented |
A.make | B.bring | C.figure | D.point |
A.since | B.though | C.until | D.before |
A.discover | B.imagine | C.remember | D.realize |
A.right | B.enough | C.possible | D.funny |
A.take up | B.learn from | C.find out | D.deal with |
A.leaving | B.belonging | C.failing | D.struggling |
A.honestly | B.equally | C.happily | D.simply |
A.appeal | B.necessity | C.motivation | D.difficulty |
A.important | B.magical | C.special | D.valuable |
A.computer | B.calendar | C.document | D.brochure |
9 . From climbing a human ladder to swimming with the crocodiles(鳄鱼), there's nothing this Spanish botanist wouldn't do in the name of plants.
Carlos Magdalena the Spanish botanist tried to ignore the "Crocodile Danger" sign as he walked into the lagoon. Based in the hot houses and labs of London’s Kew Gardens, he thought he’d spotted a new waterlily species and it wouldn’t be the first time he’d risked his life doing his job. His mission is to save the world’s most endangered plants. As well as Harrison Ford’s film character, the great gardener is also known as the Messiah, the Code Breaker and the Plant Whisperer. He’s suffered dehydration in the planet’s largest desert, driven through rivers to reach an uncommon vegetation and experienced sickness in the Peruvian Andes, where he climbed a human ladder next to a towering drop to reach a rare flower.
“Directly or indirectly plants provide the air we breathe, medicines, clothes, shelter, food and drink,” he says in a firm voice. “Without them we wouldn't be here. It’s as simple as that.”
Carlos grew up rolling the peaks and valleys of northern Spain in search of natural wonders but quickly learned all was not well.
There are some 400,000 plant species, with many more waiting to be discovered, and it’s estimated that a quarter of them are facing dangers of dying out. “They need our help and we should use whatever means possible to ensure their survival.”
Often peering into microscope late into night, Carlos marked himself out in the botanic world. Before long he came to understand that plants have a way of talking and to understand their needs, you had to listen to them. His work was daunting(令人怯步的) but he eventually triumphed. “It was like scoring the winning goal in a World Cup final,” he says.
1. What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 2 suggest?A.He was good at gardening. | B.He played a role in the film. |
C.He was famous for his plant-saving work. | D.He got along very well with the other three. |
A.learned all the plants | B.took risks to look for plants |
C.watched over different plants | D.displayed intense interest in plants |
A.Creative and demanding. | B.Devoted and considerate. |
C.Brave and determined. | D.Stubborn and caring. |
A.His cooperation with other plants-keepers. | B.His scoring a goal in the World Cup final. |
C.His future study on preserving endangered plants. | D.His successful examples of saving endangered plants. |
10 . An Indian official and his wife were giving a large dinner party. Their guests including a visiting American naturalist were seated in their dining room with wide glass doors opening onto a veranda (阳台). A spirited discussion sprung up between a young girl who insisted that women had outgrown the jumping—on—a—chair —at—the—sight—of—a—mouse time and a man who said that she hadn’t as much courage as a man.
The American watched the other guests’ reactions towards the topic and saw a strange expression on the face of the hostess. Her muscles contracted slightly and she whispered to the servant standing behind her chair. The servant left the room quickly and then placed a bowl of milk on the veranda just outside the open doors. The American remembered that milk in a bowl means only one thing—bait(诱饵) for a snake in India. He realized there must be a snake in the room and any move could cause the snake to attack.
“Now let’s play a game! I’ll count three hundred and not one of you is to move a muscle. Those who move will be fined fifty rupees(卢布). Ready!” The American said. Then the people sat just like stones.“…two hundred and eighty …” when, out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the snake appear and made for the bowl of milk. Screams rang out as he jumped to shut the veranda doors safely.
“You’re a brave man!” the host exclaimed. “A man has just shown us an example of perfect control.” “Just a minute,” the American said, turning to his hostess, “Mrs Wynne, how did you know the snake was in the room?”
A faint smile lighted up the woman’s face as she replied, “Because it was crawling across my foot.”
1. Why did the servant put a bowl of milk on the veranda?A.To feed other snakes outside. |
B.To interrupt the heated discussion. |
C.To relax the guests off nerves. |
D.To attract the snake there. |
A.Creative and critical. |
B.Generous and humorous. |
C.Smart and calm. |
D.Environmentally—friendly and serious. |
A.The hostess. |
B.The American. |
C.The girl. |
D.The man mentioned in the first paragraph. |
A.The American thought out a game for fun. |
B.The discussing man would feel sorry for his comments. |
C.The hostess was to blame for the dangerous incident. |
D.The guests knew the fact and remained still. |