Does wealth matter more than health?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Many people think that money brings happiness. However, according to Professor Michael Argyle, this is not true. In Britain, we are
Professor Argyle has found that very poor people and very rich people are unhappier than those in between. For example, very poor people in
Because of this, a few young millionaires are changing their life styles. Richard Cross, a multi-millionaire computer analyst ( 分 析 师 ) from California is an example. His house
So what can make
3 . I have a strong faith that the pain is almost gone but the feeling of success will stay forever. I was among the 38,000 runners who participated in the marathon (马拉松赛跑), the largest event of its kind in Asia.
My decision to participate in the marathon was because of the insistence of my wife, who had run the half-marathon previously. This year, she wanted me to participate along with her. Unexpectedly, her application got rejected while mine got accepted.
Though I had been into fitness training before, it seemed to be a daunting task to run 21 km. I started training about 10 weeks before the day. I had made up my mind to finish the run. So I tried my best to accommodate training into my busy schedule whenever I could.
What’s more, I remembered that four weeks into my training, my shoes were worn. I searched and hunted and literally spent a fortune on a new pair of shoes. However, right on the first day of running with them, I felt that they were not for me. I preserved, thinking that my discomfort was because the shoes were new. Eventually, I gave up on them. I even tried looking for another new pair of shoes, but couldn’t find that were as comfortable as my old ones.
Finally, on 16th January 2011, I ran and completed the half-marathon. And I did it in my old shoes.
Now, when I think about it, it all seems so easy. All I had to do was to picture completing the run in good time in my mind.
What I have learned from the experience is that completing a marathon is like any other goal in life — largely a mind-over-matter phenomenon. In other words, unless you believe you can reach your goal, you’ve lost even before you begin. No doubt, factors such as hard work, experience and talent help to a greater or lesser degree. But without your belief that you will get there, every goal remains difficult to achieve.
1. Why did the writer participate in the marathon at first?| A．It was the largest event of its kind. |
| B．He had run the half-marathon previously. |
| C．His wife insisted on him participating. |
| D．He had been training for a long time. |
| A．The writer was the best among all the runners. |
| B．The writer tried his best to do some marathon training. |
| C．The writer’s fitness training before was only a little help to him in the run. |
| D．The writer’s old shoes were very expensive. |
| A．self-confidence is the primary factor in a marathon. |
| B．to win a marathon depends on your mind, not on your shoes |
| C．it would be easy if you made up your mind to begin it |
| D．belief can bring you success in a marathon |
| A．Practice Makes Perfect. | B．Insist on Your Decision |
| C．The Pain before Success | D．A Running Lesson |
4 . It was a sunny winter day. I had gone up and down the tower when, outside the little door at the foot, a blind man came toward me. He was a pale, thin man with dark glasses. He kept close to the inner wall of the courtyard. On reaching the door, he touched it and sharply turned inside. In a moment, he disappeared up the staircase. I stood still, looking at the little sign that said “To the Tower… ” I felt obliged to follow.
I didn’t follow closely. I caught up with him in the ticket office. There I was surprised to see the attendant selling him a ticket as though he were any other visitor. With the ticket in one hand and touching the wall with the other, he reached the staircase leading to the hallway.
“That man is blind,” I said to the attendant, but he showed no concern. “He’s blind,” I repeated. He didn’t answer, looking at me vacantly.
“Perhans he wants to jump,” I said. But his chair was too comfortable. He didn’t stir. He still looked down at a crossword puzzle he had begun. I turned toward the staircase.
“The ticket,” the attendant said, rising from his chair. It seemed the only thing that could move him. After purchasing my ticket, I hurried up the staircase.
The man hadn’t gone as far as I imagined. After ten minutes, I approached him. “Excuse me,” I said as politely as I could, “but I am very curious to know why you came up.”
“You’d never guess,” he said.
“Not the view, I take it, or the fresh air on this winter day,” I said.
He smiled. “Coming up the stairs, one can feel the change-the coo staircase suddenly becomes quite warm, —and how up here behind the wall there is shade, but as soon as one goes opposite a narrow window one finds the sun. In all of Siena there is no place so good as here.”
He moved into the sunlight. Then he stepped into the shade. “Light, shade, light, shade,” he said, and seemed as pleased as a child who, in a game of hopscotch, jumps from square to square.
We went down the tower together. I left him, gladdened as one can only be by the sunlight.
1. Why did the author follow the blind man?| A．To offer timely help. | B．To satisfy his curiosity. |
| C．To teach him a lesson. | D．To prevent him from climbing up. |
| A．Enthusiastic. | B．Concerned. | C．Indifferent. | D．Skeptical. |
| A．The fresh air on the top. | B．The pleasant childhood memories. |
| C．The fantastic view from the tower. | D．The striking contrast between light and shade. |
| A．Nature is the best gift for humanity. |
| B．When one door shuts, another opens in life. |
| C．Every individual can appreciate beauty in life. |
| D．The disadvantaged deserve care from the society. |
Jack was a reserved (内向的) child who was often isolated at school. He used to suffer a lot. Seldom did he discuss anything in and after class, nor did he consult with his teacher. It seemed that he was more fond of immersing himself in his own world, However, his classmates didn’t understand his quietness and interests and often deliberately didn’t invite him to take part in activities. But in reality, Jack felt very lonely and longed to interact with others but didn’t know how to break down the barriers. He was eager to turn to someone for help.
Sadly, Jack’s parents were too occupied with daily chores to notice the change in him as he became quieter and more distant. Even when Jack picked up his courage to share his feelings, he was simply comforted by words like, “Go and get it. We know you can do it.”
However, Jack was at a total loss to pull himself out. At home, he had no alternative but to play his favorite jigsaw (拼图) puzzle in silence and avoided interacting with anyone. He began to wonder if he was doing something wrong and if he really wasn’t cut out to make friends and could never express himself properly. He felt sad and started not to associate with others.
Luckily, Jack’s class teacher noticed his predicament (窘境) and decided to step in to help. The teacher organized a class project after a math test, which seemed quite demanding for most students but not for Jack. The teacher required the students to work together in groups to solve the problems of their own and then he would invite someone to present his or her critical ideas on behalf of the group. The teacher then purposely placed Jack in a disadvantaged group and encouraged him to show his strengths. To the teacher’s credit, Jack didn’t let him down.
注意:1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
During the project, Jack impressed all the group members.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jack learned a lot from the project and decided to make a change.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6 . A father and his son went to a kite（风筝） festival. When they
The father was good
But then, a few minutes later, the kite started to
The father smiled and said. “The role of the string was not stopping the kite from going higher, but was
In our life, we may sometimes feel like there are certain things that are holding us back and stopping us from growing.
| A．arrived | B．bought | C．got | D．waited |
| A．sadly | B．quickly | C．happily | D．slowly |
| A．made | B．bought | C．sold | D．broke |
| A．for | B．to | C．with | D．at |
| A．shakes | B．seems | C．turns | D．covers |
| A．If | B．Though | C．Because | D．Until |
| A．everything | B．something | C．anything | D．nothing |
| A．bored | B．sad | C．excited | D．afraid |
| A．come down | B．go up | C．cut out | D．write down |
| A．angry | B．surprised | C．relaxed | D．nervous |
| A．finding | B．helping | C．seeing | D．hearing |
| A．itself | B．myself | C．yourself | D．himself |
| A．competition | B．information | C．way | D．instruction |
| A．And | B．But | C．So | D．Because |
| A．grow up | B．stay up | C．take care | D．tidy up |
7 . Once upon a time, a boy was walking through the countryside when he saw, among some
The boy thought that it must be the doorway to heaven, and that it would be fun to see what was up there. So he
Just when he was about to
No longer was the boy just
The boy traveled up the rainbow, filled with joy, knowing that only with sincere and heartfelt (衷心的) desire could one ever open the door to heaven.
1.| A．people | B．clouds | C．woods | D．bricks |
| A．smiled | B．succeeded | C．disappeared | D．returned |
| A．continued | B．stopped | C．started | D．proved |
| A．Therefore | B．Meanwhile | C．However | D．Furthermore |
| A．heavy | B．beautiful | C．tall | D．sharp |
| A．tried | B．regretted | C．begged | D．liked |
| A．give in | B．give up | C．give out | D．give off |
| A．surrounded | B．ordered | C．watched | D．taken |
| A．sang | B．built | C．cried | D．spoke |
| A．clue | B．message | C．tip | D．answer |
| A．happy | B．curious | C．worried | D．anxious |
| A．manage | B．discover | C．promise | D．repair |
| A．set down | B．turned down | C．cut down | D．sat down |
| A．describe | B．create | C．put | D．pick |
| A．partly | B．directly | C．smoothly | D．suddenly |
8 . So, I did it. I moved back home, despite all the disapproval. I left my good job, my relationship, and the endless opportunities.
Some people questioned me, “Why did you move back?” It was hard at first to admit that I liked being home, and that, actually, I didn’t prefer New York City (as so many people do). But after time, it became easier and less of an issue. And when they asked me why I moved back home, I confidently said, “Because I wanted to.” Many people welcomed me back into the community.
The first few months home were the most relaxing of my life. Every day I wake up to birds chirping, and sunlight coming in from the window-no traffic sounds or people screaming on the streets. It sounds like a Disney movie, but it’s so true! There is something about the air here-it’s clean. It smells good. I can also see the Grand Mesa (the largest flat-top mountain in the world) from my bedroom window. My work commute (通勤) is a four-minute car ride. And on summer nights, my favorite thing to do is watch the sunset from my porch because it’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
I’ve been home for almost three years now, much to the surprise of my friends and family. Some friends even made bets on how long “this” would last. So far, I’m winning. But since I’ve been home my life has flourished. I realized that home, for me, is a place that inspires me. Because before, in the city, I felt like I had to compete with everyone to get ahead. Many times, forgetting what I was “fighting” for, I was clouded in competition and not passion. I lost touch with the other parts of myself, never quite realizing that the quiet country life provided that to me.
By coming home, I found myself again, the true me. I didn’t expect a city to give me opportunities because I could make my own.
1. Why does the author mention “a Disney movie” in Paragraph 3?| A．To introduce a new topic. | B．To provide more details. |
| C．To give a vivid description. | D．To support an argument. |
| A．By staying home longer than expected. | B．By getting used to country life quickly. |
| C．By wining competitions at workplace. | D．By leading a better life than in the city. |
| A．Bad work relations. | B．Few job opportunities. |
| C．Longer work commute. | D．Too much competition. |
| A．The goal she was fighting for. | B．Living to be her true self. |
| C．The chance of getting ahead of others. | D．A more comfortable life. |
Self-Portrait
Alia was disappointed to find herself in the drawing studio. She had been sick with the flu during the week when everyone else got to pick their classes. She had hoped for Astronomy or Marine Biology, but they were full by the time she got to choose. She loved everything about science, from the way it used facts and formulas to how it revealed the basic nature of things. But art was so un-scientific.
The first class project was self-portraits. Some students were drawing self-portraits using mirrors. Others were working from photographs. Alia glanced at the incomplete sketches, feeling like a cat in a dog show. But she had no choice. Hesitantly, she lifted a pencil, only to pause before the canvas. Confusion and reluctance were evidently written on her face; she had no idea how to proceed with her strokes.
The teacher came up to Alia’s easel (画架). Seemingly having noticed her trouble, he sat next to her.
“Every portrait begins with a circle,” he said. “Then you create a series of lines.”
To demonstrate, he drew a group of small, quick portraits. He began each one with a circle, some straight lines, and a triangle to determine where the eyes, nose, and chin should go. To Alia’s amazement, each portrait on the paper took form. Alia had never thought about it, but the features of everyone’s face were in the same spots. “Go ahead and give it a try.” The teacher handed the pencil back to her.
Taking a deep breath, Alia began her own self-portrait. She drew the basic form of a head, the way she had been shown. From there, she used lines to plot the features of her face. She had to take note of each detail, with each stroke, line and curve demanding her close attention. One wrong measurement could throw off the whole portrait.
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The process took patience and precision.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Admiring her work, Alia suddenly realized drawing was just what she had hoped for.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________10 . By the time he was 24 years old, Imran Nuri quit his job in a bold move, and emptied his savings account to carry out an ambitious
He
In Colorado Springs, Colorado, a man in his 50s who had stage 4 terminal cancer told Nuri, “Life is about the human
In Tillamook, Oregon, a waitress-a college student told him, “whether it’s changing your major or changing your whole life path, you don’t have to
Nuri found beauty in every place as well as
| A．plan | B．policy | C．initiative | D．trick |
| A．acquaintances | B．residents | C．strangers | D．peers |
| A．embraced | B．inquired | C．misunderstood | D．known |
| A．picture | B．navigate | C．enrich | D．interpret |
| A．cracked up | B．backed away | C．set out | D．knocked off |
| A．generous | B．wrong | C．pleasant | D．selfish |
| A．dismiss | B．accompany | C．consult | D．beat |
| A．courageous | B．stupid | C．unforgettable | D．glorious |
| A．sailing | B．hiking | C．driving | D．wandering |
| A．occasionally | B．permanently | C．later | D．earlier |
| A．finally | B．excitedly | C．instantly | D．hesitantly |
| A．potential | B．nature | C．connection | D．competition |
| A．admire | B．reward | C．forgive | D．fault |
| A．wisdom | B．fortune | C．confidence | D．perseverance |
| A．objectively | B．differently | C．selectively | D．randomly |
