1 . Two of the saddest words in the English language are “if only”. I live my life with the goal of never having to say those words, because they express regret, lost opportunities, mistakes, and disappointment.
My father is famous in our family for saying, “Take the extra minute to do it right.” I always try to live by the “extra minute” rule. When my children were young and likely to cause accidents, I always thought about what I could do to avoid an “if only” moment, whether it was something minor like moving a cup full of hot coffee away from the edge of a counter, or something that required a little more work such as taping padding (衬垫) onto the sharp comers of a glass coffee table.
I don’t only avoid (避免) those “if only” moments when it comes to safety. it’s equally important to avoid “if only” in our personal relationships. We all know people who lost a loved one and regretted that they had foregone an opportunity to say, “I love you” or “I forgive you.” When my father announced he was going to the eye doctor across from my office on Good Friday, I told him that it was a holiday for my company and I wouldn’t be here. But then I thought about the fact that he’s 84 years old and I realized that I shouldn’t give up an opportunity to see him. I called him and told him I had decided to go to work on my day off after all.
I know there will still be occasions when I have to say “if only” about something, but my life is definitely better because of my policy of doing everything possible to avoid that eventuality (可能发生的事). And even though it takes an extra minute to do something right, or it occasionally takes an hour or two in my busy schedule to make a personal connection, I know that I’m doing the right thing. I’m buying myself peace of mind and that’s the best kind of insurance (保障) for my emotional well-being.
1. Which of the following is an example of the “extra minute” rule?| A．Start the car the moment everyone is seated. |
| B．Leave the room for a minute with the iron working. |
| C．Wait for an extra minute so that the steak tastes better. |
| D．Move an object out of the way before it trips (绊倒) someone. |
| A．To keep her appointment with the eye doctor. |
| B．To meet her father who was already an old man. |
| C．To join in the holiday celebration of the company. |
| D．To finish her work before the deadline approached. |
| A．given up. | B．Lacked. | C．Avoided. | D．Wasted. |
| A．The Emotional Well-being | B．The Two Saddest Words |
| C．The Most Useful Rule | D．The Peace of Mind |
2 . A month after Hurricane Katrina, I returned home in New Orleans. There lay my house, reduced to waist-high ruins, smelly and dirty.
Before the trip, I’d had my car fixed. When the office employee of the garage was writing up the bill, she noticed my Louisiana license plate. “You from New Orleans?” she asked. I said I was, “No charge,” she said, and firmly shook her head when I reached for my wallet. The next day I went for a haircut, and the same thing happened.
As my wife was studying in Florida, we decided to move there and tried to find a rental house that we could afford while also paying off a mortgage (抵押贷款) on our ruined house. We looked at many places, but none was satisfactory. We’d begun to accept that we’d have to live in extremely reduced circumstances for a while, when I got a very curious e-mail from a James Kennedy in California. He’d read some pieces I’d written about our sufferings for Slate, the online magazine, and wanted to give us (“no conditions attached”) a new house across the lake from New Orleans.
It sounded too good to be true, but I replied, thanking him for his exceptional generosity, that we had no plans to go back. Then a poet at the University of Florida offered to let his house to me while he went to England on his one-year paid leave. The rent was rather reasonable. I mentioned the poet’s offer to James Kennedy, and the next day he sent a check covering our entire rent for eight months.
Throughout this painful experience, the kindness of strangers has done much to bring back my faith in humanity. It’s almost worth losing your worldly possessions to be reminded that people are really nice when given half a chance.
1. What do we know about James Kennedy?| A．He was a writer of an online magazine. |
| B．He was a poet at the University of Florida. |
| C．He offered the author a new house free of charge. |
| D．He learned about the author’s sufferings via e-mail |
| A．the author’s family was in financial difficulty |
| B．rents were comparatively reasonable despite the disaster |
| C．houses were difficult to find in the hurricane-stricken area |
| D．the mortgage on the ruined house was paid off by the bank |
| A．worldly possessions can be given up when necessary |
| B．generosity should be encouraged in some cases |
| C．people benefit from their sad stories |
| D．human beings are kind after all |
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
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（⋀），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Three years ago I failed an important exam in my life and became a student at a ordinary school. Although I felt disappointed at the shabby campus and my poorly-equipped classroom, but I found the teachers impatient and considerate. Beside, I enjoyed the friendly class atmosphere. I decided to make the best it. I worked hard and got along good with my teachers and classmates. Whenever I had difficulties, they are always available. Soon, I became one of the top student in my class, that greatly increased my confidence and got me motivated. My experience tells me that it is not what you are given but how you make use of it that determines who we are.
John and Bobby joined a wholesale company together just after graduation from college the same year. Both worked very hard. After several years, however, the boss promoted Bobby to the position of manager but John remained an ordinary employee. John could not take it anymore. So without hesitation, he presented a tender resignation to the boss quickly, complaining the boss did not know how to identify a good clerk and did not value hard-working staff, but only promoted those who flattered (讨好) him.
The boss knew that John worked very hard for the years. He thought a moment and said, “Thank you for your criticism, but I have a request. I hope you will do one more thing for our company before you leave. Perhaps in time you will change your decision and take back your resignation.” John agreed.
The boss asked him to go and find out anyone selling watermelon in the market. John went and returned soon. He said he had found out a man selling watermelon. The boss asked how much per kg? John shook his head and went back to the market to ask and returned to inform the boss $1.2 per kg.
The boss told John to wait a second, and he called Bobby to come to his office. He asked Bobby to go and find anyone selling watermelon in the market. Bobby went, returned and said, “Boss, only one person selling watermelon. $1.2 per kg, $10 for 10 kg, and he has inventory of 340 melons. On the table 58 melons, every melon weighs about 2 kg, bought from the South two days ago. They are fresh and red, of good quality.”
John was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Bobby. He decided not to resign but to learn from Bobby.
My dear friends, a more successful person is more observant, thinks more and explores in depth. Chances exist in the daily details. For the same matter, a more successful person sees more and farther so that he can find out an opportunity and catch it to realize his aim. If a person sees one year ahead, while another sees only tomorrow, the difference between a year and a day is 365 times. How could you win?
1. After Bobby’s promotion, what did John do? (no more than 12 words)2. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “take” in Paragraph 1? (no more than 3 words)
3. What was “one more thing” the boss asked John to do before he left the company? (no more than 15 words)
4. What kind of person is Bobby? (no more than 12 words)
5. To be a more successful person, what would you like to do? Please tell your reason(s). (no more than 25 words)
6 . Long ago, people happily lived under the rule of a king. The people of the kingdom were very
The king decided to travel and visit faraway places of great historical importance. He chose to travel by foot
After several weeks, he
He made an order to
A wise man from the ministry came to the king and said he had another
The king was
Many of us
| A．close | B．polite | C．happy | D．smart |
| A．as if | B．so that | C．while | D．before |
| A．meeting | B．trip | C．discussion | D．conversation |
| A．came | B．returned | C．hurried | D．headed |
| A．Besides | B．Meanwhile | C．However | D．Instead |
| A．heart | B．feet | C．toes | D．back |
| A．shouted | B．apologized | C．explained | D．complained |
| A．safe | B．comfortable | C．straight | D．convenient |
| A．worried | B．doubtful | C．curious | D．certain |
| A．cover | B．replace | C．build | D．repair |
| A．stones | B．sand | C．wood | D．leather |
| A．angry | B．surprised | C．nervous | D．sad |
| A．killed | B．sold | C．raised | D．exchanged |
| A．reason | B．task | C．idea . | D．result |
| A．place | B．position | C．shape | D．order |
| A．confused | B．disappointed | C．shocked | D．amazed |
| A．criticize | B．love | C．harm | D．protect |
| A．chance | B．purpose | C．rule | D．change |
| A．benefit from | B．come from | C．relate to | D．go with |
| A．depend on | B．work with | C．turn to | D．believe in |
7 . “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? |
8 . Island of Feelings
Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all the others, including Love.
One day it was announced to all of the feelings that the island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave.
Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the island paradise until the last possible moment.
When the island was almost totally under, Love decided it was time to leave.
She began looking for someone to ask for help. Just then Richness was passing by in a grand boat. Love asked, ''Richness, can I come with you on your boat? ''
Richness answered, ''I'm sorry, but there is a lot of silver and gold on my boat and there would be no room for you anywhere. ''
Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was passing by in a beautiful vessel. Love cried out, ''Vanity, help me please! '' ''I can't help you, '' Vanity said, ''You are all wet and will damage my beautiful boat. ''
Next, Love saw Sadness passing by. Love said, ''Sadness, please let me go with you. ''
Sadness answered, ''Love, I'm sorry, but, I just need to be alone now. ''
Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, ''Happiness, please take me with you. '' But Happiness was so overjoyed that he didn't hear Love calling to him.
Love began to cry. Then, she heard a voice say, ''Come Love, I will take you with me. '' It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land the elder went on his way. Love realized how much she owed the elder.
Love then found Knowledge and asked, ''Who was it that helped me? '' ''It was Time.'' Knowledge answered. ''But why did Time help me when no one else would? '' Love asked.
Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity, answered, ''Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is. ''
1. Which one was the last to leave the island?| A．Happiness | B．Sadness | C．Richness | D．Love |
| A．five | B．six | C．seven | D．eight |
| A．Knowledge | B．Time | C．Love | D．Happiness |
| A．Knowledge | B．Time | C．Love | D．Happiness |
9 . It was “Disabilities Day at the Capitol ” and I was there, along with hundreds of Georgians, hoping to get the attention of our legislators (立法者). My thoughts ran back to the days when I was struggling to deal with my hearing loss learning, often dependent on others to help me hear. Now I stood under the gold dome of the Georgia Capitol, a member of the disabled community claiming the rights of people with disabilities.
After the rally (集会) I followed the crowd across the street to a free lunch. Although the crowd was huge, I managed to find a place to sit. I introduced myself to the young woman on my right, Kendall. However, with my hearing loss and her serious speech disorder, a conversation with her was next to impossible.
After a few moments, I realized that Kendall’s personal attendant (护工) was not present. I asked if anyone knew where she was and found out there had been a family situation and the attendant had to leave. “But,” I said, “who’s going to feed Kendall?” My thoughts were racing: someone had to help Kendall. In admitting her need I had to at once declare my responsibility to help.
Surprisingly, Kendall spoke clearly with her eyes. It was those eyes that spoke to me that day as we were waiting for lunch. I asked if I might serve her lunch. She nodded “Yes!” and her eyes said “Thank you!”
Helping Kendall that day shows an important belief of my life: We need each other. With or without a disability, it is our need for each other that makes us have a good life.
1. What’s the author’s purpose in attending “Disabilities Day at the Capitol”?| A．To defend the rights of the disabled. | B．To have a free lunch with friends. |
| C．To deal with his hearing problem. | D．To give support to the legislators. |
| A．Because they were in a noisy crowd. | B．Because they didn’t know each other. |
| C．Because they spoke different languages. | D．Because they both had certain disabilities. |
| A．By calling her family. | B．By feeding her lunch. |
| C．By admitting her need. | D．By finding her attendant. |
| A．We need each other to live a good life. |
| B．We should support people with disabilities. |
| C．People with disabilities should help each other. |
| D．People with disabilities should learn to be independent. |
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改:在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下而写出修改后的词。
注意:
1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Will our parents check our homework? Not really. Since having already growing up, we can’t act like little baby and rely on our parents all the time.
When I was in Grade Three, my parents asked us to check my homework by myself. I don’t know what to do in that time, so I cried. Before that, I got used to correcting my own homework and became more independent.
Check homework by ourselves is very good habit. It can not only help us find mistakes in exams more easy but also let our parents worry less about our studies. Because parents will leave us some day, so we should learn to do everything by ourselves.
