1 . * Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance(毅力) and above all confidence in ourselves.
﹣Marie Curie
* Sometimes people don’t need advice,they just need someone to listen and care.
﹣Thomas A.Edison
Choose one of the above quotations (引语) .Write a passage (80 words or so) to present your understanding of it,including the following:
①Your own story or a story of the person you admire, which can well interpret (诠释) it.
②Your own understanding of it.
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2 . My wife and I moved into our home two years ago. We had a yard with a lot of
Last summer, I found a tiny little plant in the yard that I could not immediately identify. I knew I didn’t plant it and Denise said she didn’t either.
We decided to let it
Weeks passed and as I made my way back to the
That’s when I
We need to believe in ourselves knowing we have the
A.flower | B.insects | C.vegetables | D.rocks |
A.water | B.fertilizer | C.color | D.shape |
A.stop | B.continue | C.improve | D.escape |
A.weak | B.strange | C.lonely | D.pretty |
A.collect | B.tend | C.remove | D.watch |
A.unusual | B.wonderful | C.terrible | D.valuable |
A.passed | B.started | C.left | D.died |
A.air | B.top | C.sun | D.house |
A.hoped | B.realized | C.doubted | D.regretted |
A.fill in | B.put in | C.worry about | D.believe in |
A.forget | B.hate | C.aim | D.wait |
A.wish | B.plan | C.ability | D.idea |
A.faith | B.energy | C.virtue | D.courage |
A.aware | B.afraid | C.proud | D.tired |
A.forgive | B.support | C.upset | D.affect |
3 . 阅读下面材料,在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。
I can well remember that I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class at the age of 9! You can imagine how
4 . Ten years ago, I went on a vacation in Italy. After climbing up a hill for a panoramic (全景的) view of the blue sea, white buildings and green olive trees, I paused to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo of this panorama.
Unfortunately, just as I took out my camera, a woman approached from behind, and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me, this woman was here to stop, sigh and appreciate the view.
Patient as I was, after about 15 minutes, I grew frustrated. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape? Sure, I could have asked her, but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so content in her observation. I didn't want to mess with that. Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway.
Now when I look at the photo, I think her presence in the photo is what makes the image interesting. The landscape, beautiful on its own, somehow comes to life and breathes because this woman is engaging with it.
This photo, with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who "ruined" it, now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure is captured and frozen on some strangers bedroom wall? A bedroom, after all, is a very private space, in which some woman I don't even know has been immortalized (使永存). In some ways, she lives in my house.
Perhaps we all live in each other's spaces. Perhaps this is what photos are for: to remind us that we all appreciate beauty, that we all share a common desire for pleasure, for connection, for something that is greater than us. That photo is a reminder, a captured moment, an unspoken conversation between two women, separated only by a thin square of glass.
1. What happened when the author was about to take a photo?A.Her camera stopped working. | B.A friend approached from behind. |
C.Someone asked her to leave. | D.A woman blocked her view. |
A.losing her patience | B.enjoying herself |
C.waiting for the sunset | D.thinking about her past |
A.The woman's existence in the photo. | B.The perfect positioning of the camera. |
C.The rich color of the landscape. | D.The soft sunlight that summer day. |
A.the need to be close to nature | B.the importance of private space |
C.the shared passion for beauty | D.the joy of the vacation in Italy |
5 . As you read, remember: gifts from the heart are the best ones you’ll ever receive.
According to legend (传说), a young man while moving about the desert came across a spring of delicious clear water. The water was so sweet that he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to an elder who had been his teacher. After a four-day journey he gave the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart.
Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was very smelly. It had become no longer fresh because of the old leather container. The student asked his teacher, “Master, the water was smelly. Why did you pretend to like it?”
The teacher replied, “You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of loving-kindness and nothing could be sweeter.”
I think we understand this lesson best when we receive gifts of love from young children. Whether it’s a piece of paper or a ruler, the natural and proper response (反应) is appreciation and we express thankfulness because we love the idea within the gift.
Gratitude (感激) doesn’t always come naturally. Unfortunately, most children and many adults value only the thing given rather than the feeling in it. We should tell ourselves and teach our children about the beauty and purity of feelings and expressions of gratitude. After all, gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart.
1. Based on the story, what did the water for the old man actually stand for?A.The young man’s loving-kindness. | B.The beauty of the desert. |
C.The source of the legend. | D.The importance of giving. |
A.He frowned (皱眉) at the water. | B.He showed his appreciation. |
C.He didn’t say anything. | D.He was moved to tears. |
A.The Importance of Gratitude. | B.Gifts from Children |
C.Gifts from the Heart | D.A leather Container |
6 . “Sometimes I’m so envious of my friends, I hate them,” says Kimberly. “I was at dinner a month ago, celebrating a friend’s engagement. Suddenly I remarked that 50% of marriages end in divorce. I was upset about not having a serious relationship myself. My envy took over, and I became a different person.”
Envy is the desire for what someone else has and resentment(愤恨)of that person for having it. Kimberley was envious, but that doesn’t mean she is a bad person. “Everyone experiences envy,” explains psychologist Karen Peterson.
Envy doesn’t have to make us feel powerless and sorry for ourselves. Instead, it can motivate us to try to achieve what we want. There are effective ways for dealing with envy and turning it into something useful.
Kimberly’s envy caused her to make the unkind remark about divorce. If you have a similar desire to express your envy in a negative way, stop yourself. Instead, think about what it is that you are envious of. Kimberly admitted that when her friend announced her engagement, “it made me feel lonely and insecure.” Once you figure out why you are envious, it’s much easier to eventually grow from the experience. “Envy can be an excellent teacher,” states Peterson, “as long as you are open to learning its lessons.”
Lucy and her friend were both trying to get a better job at their company. Lucy thought that she would get the promotion, but things didn’t work out that way. Instead, her friend got the job, and Lucy became upset and jealous. Full of envy, she started saying hurtful things about her friend. “That wasn’t like me, but I couldn’t think straight,” she explains. Lucy said unkind things because not getting the job made her feel bad about herself, explains Peterson. Her reaction didn’t make her feel better, though. It just strengthened her negative feelings. If something similar happens to you, Peterson says that you should try to understand why your friend got the promotion. That way you can learn from the experience instead of reacting in a negative way.
1. Karen Peterson thinks envy ______.A.turns one into a different person | B.can make one feel powerless |
C.is connected with hatred | D.is normal in humans |
A.consult a teacher for help. | B.state your negative thoughts. |
C.find out what makes you envious | D.figure out what lesson you should learn |
A.What Envy Means to Friends? | B.Is Envy Hurting or Helping you? |
C.Why Do People Make Unkind Remarks? | D.How Can You Get Along with Friends? |
7 . Do you think you have what it takes to be a successful scientist? A successful scientist is generally a good observer. He makes full
The rise of modern science may perhaps be considered to
Galileo (1564-1642),
What
A.use | B.sense | C.speed | D.trust |
A.relied | B.based | C.insisted | D.centered |
A.refuses | B.desires | C.intends | D.regrets |
A.casually | B.carefully | C.quickly | D.privately |
A.date | B.keep | C.look | D.come |
A.command | B.suspect | C.suggest | D.conclude |
A.in | B.with | C.on | D.by |
A.brought | B.discovered | C.handled | D.announced |
A.however | B.therefore | C.seldom | D.never |
A.truths | B.problems | C.investigations | D.subjects |
A.threw | B.fell | C.ran | D.rolled |
A.although | B.because | C.when | D.if |
A.place | B.foot | C.top | D.ceiling |
A.big | B.small | C.similar | D.unequal |
A.spirit | B.skill | C.theory | D.wish |
A.plans | B.opinions | C.world | D.ability |
A.led to | B.turned to | C.set up | D.put forward |
A.makes | B.prevents | C.considers | D.promises |
A.reasonable | B.successful | C.expert | D.sensitive |
A.foreseen | B.rejected | C.produced | D.challenged |
8 . It was a day in late July, grey and depressing,with dark clouds
Then,
My friend Janet had a (an)
Most of us have experienced such enlightened moments,
A.lifting | B.hanging | C.climbing | D.passing |
A.slowly | B.nervously | C.quickly | D.energetically |
A.struck | B.arose | C.formed | D.exploded |
A.pulled out | B.pulled off | C.drove in | D.dropped by |
A.even though | B.after | C.once | D.as though |
A.tap | B.light | C.key | D.button |
A.spread | B.unfolded | C.soar | D.reflected |
A.bright | B.shrinking | C.thick | D.trembling |
A.moved | B.wound | C.arched | D.flew |
A.sighting | B.view | C.scenery | D.landscape |
A.powerless | B.fragile | C.sensitive | D.speechless |
A.contrary | B.similar | C.strange | D.familiar |
A.at sunrise | B.at noon | C.at sunset | D.at night |
A.grief | B.disappointment | C.annoyance | D.relief |
A.through | B.beyond | C.across | D.above |
A.sightseeing | B.scene | C.image | D.picture |
A.united | B.gathered | C.separated | D.related |
A.overlooked | B.filled | C.overcome | D.own |
A.that | B.where | C.which | D.when |
A.power | B.strength | C.pull | D.motivation |
9 . Have you heard a story about Oliver Wendell Holmes and got what he meant? He once attended a meeting in which he was the shortest man present. "Doctor Holmes," joked a friend. "I should think you would feel rather small among us big fellows." "I do," smiled Holmes. "I feel like a dime(一角硬币)among a lot of pennies."
I ever believed only such a person like Holmes could think that way. But I was proven wrong.
Yesterday I watched a huge flight of geese winging their way south through one of those beautiful sunsets that colored the entire sky for a few moments. I saw them as I rested against the lion statue in front of the Chicago Art Institute, where I was watching the Christmas shoppers hurry along Michigan Avenue.
When I looked sideways, I noticed that a bag lady, standing a few feet away, had also been watching the geese with great attention. Sensing someone was looking at her, she cast a sideways look. Our eyes met and we smiled silently acknowledging the fact that we had shared an amazing sight, a symbol of the secret of the struggle to survive. I overheard the lady talking to herself as she walked away. Her words, "Life treats me kindly", nearly made my jaw drop.
Was the lady, this homeless street beggar, being kidding or even mindless? No. I believed the sight of the geese had reminded her of, however briefly, the difficult and unpleasant reality of her own struggle. I realized later that moments such as this one provided her with great comfort and encouragement; it was the way she survived the hardness of the street. Her smile was real.
The sight of the geese was her Christmas present. It was proof that hard work mattered. It was all she needed. I envy her.
1. From the story in paragraph 1, we can know that Holmes was .A.patient | B.rude | C.wise | D.awkward |
A.The bag lady's remarks on her life. |
B.The secret of the survival of the geese. |
C.People's enthusiasm for Christmas gifts. |
D.The beautiful sunset and the colorful sky. |
A.Her unusual experiences as a street beggar. |
B.Her great pride in what she worked hard at. |
C.Her friendly ways of getting on with strangers. |
D.Her positive attitude towards her own struggle. |
10 . When someone gives you advice, listen without judgment, try to find value in what you’re hearing, and say: “Thank you.” This wise advice is easy to understand yet hard to practice. I’ll give you an example from my life when I totally blew it in terms of practicing what I teach.
In my work I travel constantly. I always put off going to the airport until the last second. My wife, Lydia, was sitting next to me in the front seat. I was racing along and not paying much attention. Lydia cried out: “Look out! There is a red light up ahead.” Being a trained behavioral science professional—who teaches others the value of encouraging advice—I naturally screamed at her: “I know there is a red light up ahead! Don’t you think I can see?” When we arrived at the airport, Lydia didn’t speak to me. I wondered why she seemed mad at me.
During the flight to New York, I did a cost-benefit analysis. I asked myself: “What was the cost of just listening when Lydia called out the warning? Zero.” I then reasoned: “What was the potential benefit? What could have been saved?” Several potential benefits came to mind, including her life, my life, and the lives of other people. I landed in New York feeling ashamed of myself. I immediately called Lydia and told her my cost-benefit story. I convinced her: “The next time you help me with my driving, I am just going to say, “Thank you.”
A few months passed, and I had long forgotten the incident. Again, I was racing off to the airport, when Lydia cried out: “Look out for the red light!” I was embarrassed, and then shouted: “Thank you!”
I’m a long way from perfect, but I’m getting better. My suggestion is that you get in the habit of asking the important people in your life how you can do things better. And be ready for an answer. Some people may tell you things like “Look out for the red light.” When this happens, remember that there is possibly some potential benefit. Then just say: “Thank you.”
1. What do we know about the author?A.He is expert at behavioral science. |
B.He is gifted in cost-benefit analysis. |
C.He seldom takes his wife’s advice. |
D.He often runs the red traffic light. |
A.tend to be defensive when given advice |
B.intend to follow others’ suggestions |
C.had better study behavioral science |
D.should give their opinions patiently |
A.do a cost-benefit analysis in daily life |
B.treasure others’ suggestions |
C.learn from the author’s experiences |
D.discover potential benefits |