The fairest woman in the world was Helen.
So matters stood when Paris gave the golden apple to Aphrodite. The Goddess of Love and Beauty knew very well where the most beautiful woman on earth was
Menelaus returned to find Helen gone, and he called upon all of Greece to help recover her. The chieftains responded
Army had arrived, the King was plowing a field and sowing it with salt
Achilles was kept back by his mother. She sent him to the court of Lycomedes and made him wear women’s clothing, hiding him among the maidens. Odysseus was dispatched by the chieftains to bring him out. Disguised as a peddler he went to the court
So the great fleet made ready.
2 . I’ve worked in the factories surrounding my hometown every summer since I graduated from high school, but making the transition between school and full-time blue-collar work during the break never gets any easier. For a student like me who considers any class before noon to be uncivilized, getting to a factory by 6 o'clock each morning is torture. My friends never seem to understand why I’m so relieved to be back at school or that my summer vacation has been anything but a vacation.
There’re few people as self-confident as a college student who had never been out in the real world. People my age always seem to overestimate the value of their time and knowledge. In fact, all the classes did not prepare me for my battles with the machine I ran in the plant, which would jam whenever I absent-mindedly put in a part backward or upside down.
The most stressful thing about blue-collar life is knowing your job could disappear overnight. Issues like downsizing and overseas relocation had always seemed distant to me until my co-workers told me that the unit I was working in would shut down within six months and move to Mexico, where people would work for 60 cents an hour.
After working 12-hour shifts in a factory, the other opinions have become only too clear. When I’m back at the university, skipping classes and turning in lazy rewrites seems too irresponsible after seeing what I would be doing without school. All the advice and public-service announcements about the value of an education that used to sound stale now ring true.
These lessons I’m learning, however valuable, are always tinged with a sense of guilt. Many people pass their lives in the places I briefly work, spending 30 years where I spend only two months at a time. “This job pays well, but it’s hell on the body,” said one co-worker. “Study hard and keep reading,” she added.
My experiences in the factories has inspired me to make the most of my college years before I enter the real world for good.
1. What does the author think of his summer days while at college?| A．They brought him nothing but torture. |
| B．They were no holiday for him at all. |
| C．They were a relief from his hard work at school. |
| D．They offered him a chance to know more people. |
| A．They expect too much from the real world. | B．They have little interest in blue-collar life. |
| C．They have a feeling of trust in themselves. | D．They are not confident of their future. |
| A．He learned to be more practical. | B．He acquired a sense of urgency. |
| C．He came to respect blue-collar workers. | D．He came to appreciate his college education. |
| A．He realizes there is a great divide between his life and that of blue-collar workers. |
| B．He looks down upon the mechanical work at the assembly line. |
| C．He has not done much to help his co-workers at the factory. |
| D．He has stayed at school just for the purpose of escaping from the real world. |
3 . It was this very morning that Garrone let us know what he is like.
The master had not yet arrived, and three or four boys were bullying Crossi, the one with the red hair who has a dead arm and whose mother sells vegetables. They were hitting him in the face with chestnut shells. And he, alone on the end of the bench, became quite pale, begging that they leave him in peace.
All at once, Franti sprang upon a bench. Pretending that he was carrying a basket on each arm, he aped the mother of Crossi when she used to come to wait for her son at door. Many began to laugh loudly and Crossi was trembling and turning red with anger.
Suddenly Crossi seized an inkstand and threw it at the other’s head with all his strength, but Franti moved aside, and the inkstand struck the master who entered at the moment, full in the breast. All flew to their places and became silent with terror. The master, quite pale, went to his table, and said in a controlled voice:
“Who did it?”
No one replied.
The master cried out once more, raising his voice still louder, “Who is it?”
Then Garrone, moved to pity for poor Crossi, rose sharply and said resolutely, “ It was I.”
The master looked at him, looked at the confused scholars, then said in a calm voice, “It was not you.”
And after a moment. “The culprit shall not be punished. Let him rise!”
Crossi rose and said, weeping “They were striking me and insulting me, and I lost my head and threw it.”
“Sit down,” said the master. “Let those who provoked him rise.”
Four rose and hung their heads. “You,” said the master, “have insulted an unfortunate companion; you have struck a weak person who could not defend himself. You have committed one of the most shameful acts!”
Then he went over to Garrone and looked him straight in the eye, and said to him, “You are a noble soul.”
Garrone profited by the occasion to murmur some words, I know not what, in the ear of the master; and he, turning towards the four boys, said abruptly, “I forgive you.”
1. What finally provoked Crossi to throw an inkstand?| A．Franti made fun of Crossi’s mother walking with a dead arm. |
| B．Franti imitated the way Crossi’s mother carried her basket. |
| C．The boys hit Crossi in the face hard with chestnut shells. |
| D．The boys pulled Crossi upon a bench and laughed at him loudly. |
| A．advocate | B．leader | C．captain | D．offender |
| A．he dared to speak his mind | B．he forgave the four bullies |
| C．he took the blame for Crossi | D．he brought bad guys to justice |
| A．A Generous Deed | B．A Domestic Incident |
| C．Making the Right Choice | D．To Believe or Not to Believe |
4 . For 38-year-old Justin Herald, the journey to wealth began one Sunday morning at a church in Sydney's northwest, when he was involved in a quarrel with a member of the church choir. "You have an attitude problem," she told him.
The accusation sparked something in him, and he borrowed $50 from his brother to have four T-shirts printed with the slogan: "I don't have an attitude problem; you have a perception problem."
"It was the best $50 I ever spent," laughs Herald. By the end of the morning, he had sold three of the four T-shirts. With the money he made, he had another six printed, then 12, then 24. "That first year the earning were $98,000," he says.
His business, Attitude Inc., is now a multi-million-dollar company with a wide range of products selling in 3,500 stores across Australia. His business was due to not just clever marketing - the public loved the slogan - but also he has to admit that in those days there was very little competition in his sector of the clothing industry, and he was in the right place at the right time.
The media spotlight also helped, with people paying attention to Herald's likeable personality and infections passion for his business: the night of one TV appearance, 187 stores rang to get his products into their stores.
Herald sold the business three years ago, by which time it was turning over $30 million a year, and now spends his time as a motivational speaker. His message: anyone can be financially successful if they set their mind to it. "You have to have a lot of stickability, because not everything is going to work the way you plan it."
Still living in Castle Hill with his wife and two children, Herald believes too many successful people become caught up in the trappings of wealth. "I have lived here since I left school at 16," he says. "In this area, you don't forget where you came from."
1. Why does Herald think it was the best $50 he ever spent?| A．Because that sum of money covered the cost of four T-shirt |
| B．Because that sum of money showed his accusation was wrong. |
| C．Because he received that sum of money when he was in need. |
| D．Because he gained more than expected from that sum of money. |
| A．good timing and cooperation | B．business sense and luck |
| C．fierce competition and passion | D．family background and motivation |
| A．competence | B．conscience | C．persistence | D．fortune |
| A．Attitude Pays Off | B．No Bravery, No Gains |
| C．Start a Business | D．Never Too Old to Challenge Yourself |
5 . All Miss Price had been told about the new boy was that he’d spent most of his life in some kind of orphanage, and that the gray-haired “aunt and uncle” with whom he now lived were really foster parents (养父母), paid by the Welfare Department of the City of New York. A less devoted teacher might have pressed for more details, but Miss Price was content with the rough outline. It was enough to fill her with a sense of mission that shone from her eyes, from the first morning he joined the fourth grade.
He arrived early and sat in the back row, his backbone very straight, his ankles crossed precisely under the desk and his hands folded on the center of its top, and while the other children were filling in, he received a long, expressionless stare from each of them.
“We have a new classmate this morning,” Miss Price said, “His name is Vincent Sabella, and he comes from New York City. I know we’ll all do our best to make him feel at home.”
This time they all swung around to stare at once, which caused him to duck his head slightly and shift his weight from one side to the other. Ordinarily, the fact of someone’s coming from New York might have held a certain status, for to most of the children the city was a frightening, adult place that swallowed up their fathers every day. But anyone could see at a glance that Vincent Sabella had nothing to do with it. Even if you could ignore his twisted black hair and gray skin, his clothes would have given him away: ridiculously new pants, ridiculously old sports shoes and a yellow sweatshirt, much too small, with the faded remains of a Mickey Mouse design stamped on its chest.
The girls decided that he wasn’t very nice and turned away, but the boys remained in their inspection, looking him up and down with faint smiles. This was the kind of kid they were accustomed to thinking of as “tough,” the kind whose stare has made all of them uncomfortable at one time or another in unfamiliar neighborhoods; here was a unique chance for revenge.
1. What can you learn about Miss Price and Vincent from the first two paragraphs?| A．Since nobody had ever seen Vincent’s parents, he now lived all by himself. |
| B．Miss Price knew Vincent so well that she’d like to focus every bit of attention on him. |
| C．Miss Price didn’t know much about Vincent, but that didn’t stop her wanting to care about him. |
| D．Vincent sat in the back row so as not to arouse any unnecessary attention caused by his late arrival. |
| A．To illustrate Vincent’s distant origin. |
| B．To demonstrate children’s desire to go to see their fathers. |
| C．To emphasize Vincent’s low social status from his shabby clothes. |
| D．To state a certain distinction between Vincent and people’s imagination. |
| A．Devoted but shy. | B．Nervous and uneasy. |
| C．Untalkative and tough. | D．Sensitive but unfortunate. |
| A．They were either unconcerned or unfriendly toward him. |
| B．They used to consider people like Vincent to be very tough. |
| C．They barely noticed the new boy sitting in the back of the classroom. |
| D．They were very curious about the newcomer in a kind and considerate manner. |
6 . I’ve been in an 18-year love-hate relationship with a black walnut tree.
It’s a unique tree. In late September or early October, falling fruits as hard as baseballs threaten the skulls (头骨) of you, your children, your neighbors and those that reside next door to them. Umbrellas in the yard are a must while dining in early August, and as for me, I wear my bike helmet while working in the garden.
The black walnut also releases a chemical substance through its roots as a competitive strategy. It’s poisonous to several common plants. There have been many new plant varieties that I brought home with hopes that maybe the black walnut would accept them, but they failed to flourish.
What does work are native plants that naturally grow in the area. Native plants are important to have around since they provide beneficial pollinators (传粉者) like birds, bees and butterflies with seeds and contribute to a healthy and biodiverse environment. Native plants for this area are generally easy to grow, so they experience less stress.
Have I thought of getting rid of this giant pain in my tiny backyard? Yes, however, getting rid of this tree standing at 50 feet with an 87-inch trunk is next to impossible. It’s also protected under the law. Rightfully so. Trees are important to the urban forest and for all of those that inhabit it.
Sometimes I think about my life without the black walnut. I can’t imagine a spring without the birds who arrive every year and loudly sing their songs before dawn. I’d miss falling asleep on lazy weekend afternoons as I look up into its leaves.
Every spring, I wonder what the season holds: What are the chances of being knocked unconscious while barbecuing? Like any good relationship, I’ll never be pleased. I’m stuck with this tree, so I’ll listen to its needs and give it the space it requires. In return, my walnut offers a habitat for wildlife and a reminder.
1. Why does the author wear a bike helmet while working in the garden?| A．To protect the injured skull. | B．To prevent herself from sunburn. |
| C．To avoid being hit by the nuts. | D．To reduce the chance of getting bitten by bees. |
| A．It attracts beneficial pollinators. |
| B．It lets out poison to drive away pests. |
| C．It produces a chemical fatal to some plants. |
| D．It competes for nutrition with similar species. |
| A．The volume of its fruits may bring inconvenience. |
| B．The tree outcompetes the native plants in the garden. |
| C．The tree is home to numerous birds and other creatures. |
| D．The presence of the tree takes up much space of the garden. |
| A．it’s better to give than to take |
| B．trees and plants have their own ways to flourish |
| C．even a good relationship is not always trouble-free |
| D．acceptance, instead of resistance, is the better way to be |
Lost at sea
Two men from the Solomon Islands have been rescued after spending 29 days lost at sea.
The men
“I look forward to going back home
Nanjikana and Junior Qoloni took off from Mono Island on Sept. 3 in a motorboat to travel 200 km to Noro on New Georgia Island. However, soon after they set out, their boat was hit by heavy winds and rain, which made unclear the coastline they were following
“When the bad weather came, it was bad, but it was
When the rain had finally passed, Nanjikana and Qoloni had already drifted far out to sea. They spent the next 29 days
A fisherman found and rescued the two men on Oct. 2 off the coast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, about 400 km from
Nanjikana and Qoloni
8 . On the night of September 19, 1961, Betty Hill and her husband Barney were driving home through the White Mountains from Niagara Falls. They were travelling on a nearly deserted two-lane highway when Betty noticed a steady light in the sky that was getting bigger and brighter.
She thought it was a planet or a star. Barney, stimulated at her excitement, said it was probably just a wandering aeroplane. Whatever it was, it appeared to be following them.
They stopped their car for a closer look. What they said happened next, changed their lives. The flying object was noiseless. It appeared to be spinning. It was as big as a jet but shaped like a pancake.
So formed the tale of Betty Hill, a New Hampshire social worker who, with Barney, a postal worker, claimed to be kidnapped by aliens, who were from outer space, on a moonlit night about 60 years ago.
After reluctantly going public with her experience, Hill, who died of cancer at her New Hampshire home, aged 85, became a celebrity on the UFO circuit and was known as the “first lady of UFOs”.
Intriguingly, at the time of the incident, the Hills remembered nothing except that they had spied a strange object in the sky. Later, troubled by nightmares and other stress-related pains, the couple underwent hypnosis(催眠) where the full story came out with the aid of Boston psychiatrist Benjamin Simon, an expert in medical hypnosis.
On their night of contact the Hills arrived home at 5 a.m., unable to account for two lost hours. They were also confused by the odd marks on their telescopes, deep signs on the tops of Barney’s best shoes, Betty’s torn dress and strange circular markings on their car that made the needle of a compass jump wildly.
After seeing them for six months, the psychiatrist concluded the Hills’ lost memory about the hours they lost on that night in 1961 “appeared to involve an amazing experience on the part of both of the Hills”. Whether the experience had been fantasy or reality, Simon could not say, but he said he was convinced they had not been lying. He guessed that it had been a kind of shared dream.
Reports of aliens capturing humans and taking them aboard oddly shaped spacecraft were “comparatively rare” before 1975. After a movie, “The UFO Incident”, about the Hills came out, however, such stories increased.
1. When they saw the strange object in the sky, Barney and Betty Hill ______________.| A．were astonished at its strange flight and noise | B．regarded it as just a wandering car following them |
| C．realized immediately what the danger it might cause | D．showed curiosity in discovering what it really was |
| A．Ridiculously | B．Temporarily | C．Remarkably | D．Mysteriously |
| A．they had lots of secrets in their lives after the strange experience |
| B．their lives were greatly disturbed by the unexpected experience |
| C．they wanted to share their unforgettable experience with the expert |
| D．they hoped to forget completely what had happened to them |
| A．describe an unusual event to the readers | B．convince readers of the existence of UFOs |
| C．record how people were caught by aliens | D．warn people of the dangers the UFOs cause |
9 . Even though some people believe that money makes the world go around, many people would choose health over wealth. For someone like violinist Robert Gupta, who was on his way to becoming a physician before joining the Los Angeles Philharmonic at age 19, music, health, and wealth are all part of the same package.
In addition to music, Gupta is deeply interested in neurobiology Because of his interests, he has had the chance to work with Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a talented musician whose career was sidelined by schizophrenia. Although Ayers studied music at the Juilliard School York City, his mental illness got in the way of professional success.
After dropping out of Julliard and having unsuccessful medical treatment for his schizophrenia, Ayers moved to Los Angeles where he ended up homeless. In 2005, a journalist for the Los Angeles Times named Steve Lopez heard Ayers playing music in the streets. Lopez wrote a book about Ayers and became his friend. Their friendship became the subject of a movie, and because of the book and the movie, Ayers has had a chance to perform his music in some of the most famous concert halls in the world.
It seemed like Ayers had found his happy ending. However, he refuses to take medication to treat his schizophrenia. He says it keeps him from “hearing the music”. Because of this, Ayers is still subject to schizophrenia and sometimes leaves his home to go back to the streets.
Gupta was introduced to Ayers after Lopez took his friend to a performance of Beethoven’s First and Fourth symphonies, and Ayers asked Gupta for a violin lesson. When they first met, Ayers was on edge. Gupta was afraid that if he taught the lesson in his usual way, Ayers would react violently. Finally, he just began playing. A change came over Ayers. Gupta said, “And m a miracle, he lifted his own violin and he started playing.” The two musicians played many violin pieces together that day. A bond was formed.
Music, Gupta realized, is a way to deal with our emotions, even our most unpleasant ones. “This was the very reason why we made music through our creativity, we’re able to shape those emotions into reality,” he says.
Now, Gupta says, “I will always make music with Nathaniel, whether we’re at Walt Disney Concert Hall or on Skid Row, because he reminds me why I became a musician.”
1. From the first two paragraphs, we can learn that Robert Gupta________.| A．became a physician at the age of 19 |
| B．was interested in the treatment of schizophrenia |
| C．was lucky to be wealthy, healthy and talented in music |
| D．had long dreamed to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic |
| A．Steve Lopez’s book and a movie about their friendship |
| B．his great efforts to fight against his mental illness |
| C．Robert Gupta’s original way of teaching music |
| D．his talent in composing and playing music |
| A．excited but uncertain | B．eager for a violin lesson |
| C．nervous and bad-tempered | D．anxious about his own career |
| A．A Great Musician | B．Teaching Music |
| C．Why Study Music | D．Music Is Medicine |
It was a very dark street. I was on my way home
The “guide”, as I called the person later, stood and waited
The following day I heard that a young person had been killed
