1 . Years ago, I decided to take the adventure and start working from home. I became a stay-at-home mom with two young boys. I felt lost after leaving the working world so I wanted something new to focus on.     1     I really wanted an excuse to connect with other adults regularly.

But only weeks into my new adventure, I was trapped in the comparison game. I constantly compared my progress with that of others on my team. It seemed that this business was coming easily to everyone but me.     2    

Then the leader of my team came to me. He gave me some advice and encouraged me to keep my blinders (马眼罩) on.     3     The blinders help them avoid distractions as they walk down the chosen path. So I took my leader’s advice of putting on “blinders”.

    4     I got more peaceful. And I became able to appreciate the little goals I had achieved in my business. I wasn’t making huge “jumps” like some others on my team. But as one small success led to another, my confidence and happiness grew. I was encouraged to make more progress.

From this experience, I’ve learned that comparing myself to others truly gets me nowhere. It not only prevents my ambition, but also overshadows my successes. Whether in business or parenting, there will always be someone performing better than me.     5     I’m running in my own race — enjoying it at my own perfect pace.

A．It turned out that it benefited me a lot.

B．But what was I going to do with the blinders?

C．I didn’t let others’ accomplishments lessen my own.

D．The weight of comparison made me close to quitting.

E．Do you know that horses wear blinders as they pull carriages?

F．And what I should hold to is that I’m not running in their race.

G．Preferably, it was something that had nothing to do with childcare.

2 . It seems that all kids need to be motivated to learn while some kids have to be tricked into learning.

I have taught students in high school for the last ten years. The first couple of years, I _______ as if I was knocking my head _______ a wall. No one cared about learning and much anger was _________. When I left school, I found my car with flat tires. I was still _______ not to give up. The next week, my car was covered with _______ that would not come off. This kind of behavior was _______ and common.

Then one day, I decided to motivate the kids. I made a _______ with the students that if everyone in the class _______ the semester with an 80 or better, I would _______ them to cover my car with as many eggs as they wanted to one day. If most of the class ________ a 90 or better, they could cut its tires ________ they turned into rubber bands. The students took up the ________ and left my car alone for the whole semester. They studied hard and helped each other to learn. The last day came, and to my excitement, my students ________ above 95 for the semester. Then the kids ________ twelve boxes of extra large eggs. Ten minutes later, the car was ________ trapped in eggs and the tires looked like rubber bands!

I thought it was ________. The kids learned, and I only had my car ________ twice a year. I’ve made this bet for the past ten years with no ________ and 100% success. The moral of the story is that you must find what motivates the students at all ________. I still drive my Camaro, and I’ve been never able to fully clean the eggs off. It’s a ________ of their success.

1.

A．looked

B．felt

C．believed

D．guessed

2.

A．out

B．beyond

C．against

D．on

3.

A．brought up

B．taken up

C．made up

D．built up

4.

A．determined

B．angry

C．excited

D．cautious

5.

A．rubber

B．pictures

C．eggs

D．band

6.

A．funny

B．expected

C．humorous

D．astonished

7.

A．decision

B．suggestion

C．deal

D．plan

8.

A．ended

B．started

C．got

D．achieved

9.

A．allow

B．attempt

C．encourage

D．approve

10.

A．took

B．performed

C．kept

D．scored

11.

A．when

B．until

C．as

D．once

12.

A．challenge

B．difficulty

C．record

D．belief

13.

A．realized

B．dreamed

C．equaled

D．averaged

14.

A．set off

B．got down

C．went away

D．pulled out

15.

A．extremely

B．completely

C．especially

D．largely

16.

A．shameful

B．terrible

C．valuable

D．worthwhile

17.

A．suffered

B．covered

C．cut

D．played

18.

A．troubles

B．regrets

C．wishes

D．ideas

19.

A．means

B．interests

C．costs

D．games

20.

A．signal

B．presentation

C．reminder

D．medal

3 . Forty years ago, I was a boy of eight. At that time, if I cleaned the hockey (曲棍球) field near my home and______an empty envelope with an extra______, I would get a photo of a hockey player. Hockey was my favorite______. I wanted the photos of all my heroes, especially the members of the Boston Bruins.

“Michael! You’re going to put us in the poor house______stamps and envelopes.” My mum ______. “But, Mum! I want to get the whole set,______all the Boston players.” Mum said, “Write the ______carefully, so that it gets to the right place.”

When I finished, I put the envelope in the______the next day. Each day after, I’d ask, “ Mum, did it come yet?” “Michael, we just mailed it off. Be______.”

A week later, when I opened the door, on the table was a brown______addressed to me. My heart skipped a beat. It was the first mail I ever______. Inside was a photo waiting for my______hands to take out. I______the envelope, ran to my room, and opened it with shaking hands. There it was. I did get a_______of the Bruins’ highest scorer--Phil Esposito.

For weeks, I had cleaned the hockey field. In the______of collecting the photos, I was making the field a cleaner place. Every week, I received an envelope. My collection______. If I received a photo I already had, I’d take it to school and______it with best school friends. My collection was______when the hockey season drew to a close. I was so______to have all the photos of the Boston Bruins.

I now still have those photos. As I______them, I understand: if you want something, you have to be devoted, and you have to work for it.

1.

A．found

B．borrowed

C．mailed

D．unfolded

2.

A．stamp

B．note

C．advertisement

D．notice

3.

A．place

B．player

C．show

D．sport

4.

A．buying

B．making

C．printing

D．sticking

5.

A．ordered

B．shouted

C．advised

D．laughed

6.

A．briefly

B．totally

C．simply

D．especially

7.

A．address

B．homework

C．sentence

D．number

8.

A．schoolbag

B．drawer

C．mailbox

D．cupboard

9.

A．active

B．generous

C．patient

D．silent

10.

A．parcel

B．envelope

C．toy

D．case

11.

A．posted

B．invited

C．prepared

D．received

12.

A．eager

B．steady

C．painful

D．busy

13.

A．left

B．caught

C．tore

D．threw

14.

A．ticket

B．request

C．prize

D．picture

15.

A．operation

B．process

C．movement

D．produce

16.

A．increased

B．remained

C．disappeared

D．improved

17.

A．enjoy

B．share

C．discuss

D．study

18.

A．priceless

B．complete

C．unique

D．useful

19.

A．concerned

B．calm

C．curious

D．proud

20.

A．search for

B．point at

C．look through

D．turn to

4 . Several weeks ago, I pulled an old road map out of the glove box and passed it to my children. They had never seen the province of Ontario laid out like that before. They stared at the map, asking about all the towns, parks, and other landmarks we'd visited, and I pointed them out on the map.

Google Maps and GPS are modern wonders that have gotten me out of many confusing places, but paper maps still have a role to play in our lives. Most of us adults learned to read them out of necessity, but it's up to us to pass on that skill to children whose need may not be so obvious, but who still stand to benefit from it.

As Trevor Muir wrote in an article on this topic, "When kids learn how to create and use paper maps, they are doing more than just learning how to get around. They are actually developing fundamental skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Map skills still belong in today's classroom. "

As a child I had National Geographic maps taped to my bedroom walls. This aroused my curiosity and imagination about those places and thus made me eager to remember my geography and history lessons because they were tied to places I'd "seen". Even now as a mother of four, I've also spared time to travel to many of the countries whose maps I studied as a child.

Additionally, in this fast-changing world, unexpected events can rapidly influence one's usual way of life. When GPS satellites or Internet connections are affected, this old-fashioned skill can get you out of a mess without requiring a smartphone. Last but not least, paper maps arouse "big picture" thinking, showing kids that there's a much bigger world out there and helping to direct them within it.

So, now is a good time to pull out those dusty old maps and lay them on the kitchen table.

1. How did the children react when they were given the paper map?

A．They showed great curiosity.

B．They seemed totally confused.

C．They considered it old-fashioned.

D．They found it less convenient than GPS.

2. What might be the topic of the article written by Trevor Muir?

A．The teaching focus in today's classroom.

B．The situations where paper maps are used.

C．The necessity of digital maps in the modem world.

D．The benefit of developing paper map skills for kids.

3. Which of the following shows the author's opinion?

A．Internet connections are very reliable today.

B．GPS will sooner or later replace paper maps.

C．Paper maps provide kids with a grand vision.

D．Paper maps make people connected with each other.

4. What would be the best tide for the text?

A．Time to Teach Kids to Read Paper Maps.

B．How to Teach Kids about Different Kinds of Maps.

C．Time to Encourage Kids to Step into a Bigger World.

D．How to Teach Kids Fundamental Skills with Paper Maps.

5 . I still remember that day clearly. I zipped past my father cleaning the table. Seconds later, I zipped past him again. Minutes later, I was _________ wrapping Allyson's birthday gifts while ordering a _________ for her coming party. As soon as I finished the _________, I glanced up and met Dad's disapproving look.

“You are too _________ and stressed, honey,” he said, sitting in a chair, watching The Price Is Right, “You need to _________ and enjoy life a little more.” He was_________. And at that moment, I realized I had been totally_________ Dad in order to finish all of the_________ on my to-do list. All Dad wanted me to do was sit down and spend some time with him. _________ I did. I knew the present-wrapping could__________, and the cake could be ordered later. I sat down and watched The Price Is Right with Dad. It was his__________. We laughed and talked. I'm so__________ that I didn’t miss that special last time with my dad__________   that to-do list. Daddy__________ a few months later, but his words of wisdom remain with me.

When I am writing non-stop, trying to __________ a book soon or attempting to clean the entire house at once, I'll remember Dad's__________.

Actually, the__________ will always be, but special time with people you__________ can slip by quickly. So watch a show with your parents. Play a game with your kids. Take a long romantic walk with your__________. Each of them__________ a lot to you and they are more important than other things.

1.

A．politely

B．proudly

C．quickly

D．calmly

2.

A．cake

B．book

C．meal

D．hotel

3.

A．journey

B．call

C．report

D．game

4.

A．excited

B．disappointed

C．strange

D．busy

5.

A．come over

B．slow down

C．give up

D．break out

6.

A．clever

B．upset

C．right

D．puzzled

7.

A．refusing

B．annoying

C．observing

D．ignoring

8.

A．purposes

B．promises

C．roles

D．tasks

9.

A．But

B．So

C．Yet

D．Or

10.

A．wait

B．work

C．exist

D．continue

11.

A．chance

B．rule

C．favorite

D．choice

12.

A．glad

B．patient

C．sad

D．curious

13.

A．as for

B．instead of

C．except for

D．because of

14.

A．came back

B．showed up

C．dropped by

D．passed away

15.

A．finish

B．find

C．keep

D．paint

16.

A．experiences

B．words

C．programs

D．thoughts

17.

A．lists

B．plans

C．habits

D．points

18.

A．believe

B．love

C．respect

D．honor

19.

A．customer

B．teacher

C．partner

D．neighbor

20.

A．affords

B．explains

C．means

D．talks

6 . Some time ago, in my class I was about to fail a student for his answer to a physics question when the student claimed he deserved a better score. The examination question sounded “safe”.

“Show how it is possible to determine the height of a tall building with the aid of a barometer（压表）.” The student had answered: “Take the barometer to the top of the building, attach a long rope to it, lower the barometer to the street, and then bring it up, measuring the length of the rope. The length of the rope is the height of the building.”

I argued that a high grade should prove his competence in physics, but the answer did not confirm this. I suggested that the student have another try. Immediately, he worked out his answer: A second best way is to take the barometer to the top of the building. Drop the barometer, timing its fall with a stopwatch. Then, using the formula to calculate the height of the building.

I was shocked by his answer. His method gave me not only a broken barometer but a U-turn in my teaching philosophy. I gave him full marks.

On his leaving my office, I recalled that he suggested there could be a better answer. So I asked him what it was. “Oh, yes,” said the student, “There are many ways. Probably the best,” he said, “is to take the barometer to the basement and ask the superintendent （楼管）. You speak to him as follows: Mr.Superintendent, here I have a fine barometer. If you tell me the height of this building, I will give it to you.

At this point, I asked the student if he really did not know the conventional answer to this question. He admitted that he did, but said that he was fed up with high school instructors’ trying to teach him how to think, and to use the so-called “scientific method”. He just wanted to solve the problem in a practical manner, not just answer the question in an expected way. Hearing this, I really had nothing to do but give the boy a firm handshake, feeling thankful that I hadn’t failed him in the first place and even more thankful, neither had he.

1. Why did the author want to fail the student in the first place?

A．The student challenged his authority.

B．The student’s answer was not practical.

C．The student didn’t show his academic ability.

D．The student had a poor performance in physics class.

2. Which of the following can best describe the author’s new teaching philosophy?

A．Without love, there is no education.

B．A man becomes learned by asking questions.

C．Teaching is to make two ideas grow where only one grew before.

D．You can lead your horse to the river, but you can’t make it drink.

3. What made the student abandon the conventional answer?

A．Lack of physics-related knowledge.

B．Ignorance of the teacher’s expectation.

C．Intention to deeply impress his teacher.

D．Disapproval of existing teaching concepts.

4. What can we infer from the text?

A．The superintendent was a greedy person.

B．School education restricted this student’s thinking.

C．The teacher appreciated the student’s answers finally.

D．The examination question is a lough physics problem.