1 . I first saw a real durian (榴莲) in an Asian supermarket in Queens. That strange-looking fruit was big, heavy, and covered with sharp pricks (刺). I decided to buy one. The Chinese checkout girl carefully wrapped it thickly in a newspaper before putting it into a shopping bag.
On the train home, I cautiously opened the Chinese newspaper and lifted it out. Its strangeness made me think of kung fu, yoga and Taijiquan.
Upon arriving home, I dug out the biggest knife and cut through the tough prickly husk (壳). I tasted the pale-yellow flesh, delicious!
After that, durian was my favourite fruit. My skill at cutting durian open was improving. I showed the skill to my girlfriend.
A few years later, we moved to Taiwan. One day I noticed some durians had begun to open by themselves. The owner tried to get me to buy one but I shook my head, thinking it was far-gone. Instead I selected one whose outer husk wasn’t open.
The next morning I woke up to a strong durian smell. I found a small crack (裂缝) had appeared all on its own. I used the smallest pressure and tasted a more delicious durian. Suddenly, I realized something. I ha felt so satisfied with my own skill in opening the durian that I never thought about letting the durian open itself. The higher art was not in doing but in not doing — letting the thing happen on its own in the way it happens best.
1. Why did the Chinese checkout girl wrap the durian thickly in a newspaper?| A．To decorate the durian. | B．To stop the durian from falling apart. |
| C．To prevent the author from being hurt. | D．To encourage the author to read Chinese. |
| A．A strange fruit. | B．A delicious dinner. |
| C．Other passengers’ attention. | D．Some symbols of Asian culture. |
| A．He thought it was too ripe. | B．He enjoyed the selection of durian. |
| C．He wanted a chance to show his skill. | D．He preferred the durian with open husk. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Let nature take its course. |
| C．Interest is the best teacher. | D．Kill two birds with one stone. |
2 . It was early winter several years ago. I had pulled out my old winter coat for another year’s use. It was still in pretty good shape although it was looking dirty from so many winters’ wear. I didn’t really need a new one but I wanted one and casually mentioned it to my daughter one day. She was such a sweet, loving girl that I should have guessed what would happen next. A few weeks later she gave me a new winter coat as a gift.
I put the old one in my closet and started to wear the new coat every day. Each day, though, when I opened my closet, something troubled me. It seemed a shame that my old but still good coat should just sit there keeping no one warm during the cold winter days. After a few weeks, I took it out and drove to a local charity shop. I knew that there was someone who couldn’t afford a coat but could get my old one.
My new coat is my old coat now. It is getting a little dirty and worn, too. It has black marks on the sleeves. It is in too bad shape to even donate to charity. I wonder if I should buy a new one soon, but I think I will wait for a while. I don’t really need a new one and maybe I can find something else to give to the charity shop instead.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Want is a growing giant whom the coat of Have was never large enough to cover,” Perhaps the best way to deal with our wants then is to give instead. Love, after all, brings us the most joy. And the more of it you give away, the more of it you have.
1. Which word can best describe the author’s daughter?| A．Thoughtful. | B．Wealthy. | C．Easy-going. | D．Hard-working. |
| A．It cost too much. |
| B．It was looking dirty. |
| C．It was not sent to someone in need. |
| D．There was not enough room for his new coat. |
| A．Telling his daughter. | B．Buying a new one soon. |
| C．Sending something else to charity. | D．Donating it to charity. |
| A．Love is the key to joy. |
| B．Giving fills our wants. |
| C．The more you give, the more you lose. |
| D．A coat is large enough to cover our wants |
3 . My passage into eighties a few weeks ago gave me a moment’s reflection and the thought that I should watch how others in this situation have been affected. After a while it seemed to me that the first 80 years are the hardest.
Once you reach 80, everyone wants to carry your baggage and help you up steps. If you forget your name or anybody else’s name, or an appointment or your own telephone number, or promise to be three places at the same time, or you can’t remember how many grandchildren you have, you need only explain that you are 80.
Being 80 is a lot better than being 70. At 70 people are mad at you for everything. At 80, you have a perfect excuse no matter what you do. If you act foolishly, it’s your second childhood. Everybody is looking for symptoms of your failures of the brain.
Being 70 is not fun at all. At that age they expect you to retire to a house in Florida and complain about your arthritis (关节炎) and you ask everybody to stop mumbling (咕哝) because you can’t understand them. (Actually your hearing is about 50% gone.)
If you survive until you are 80, everybody is surprised that you are still alive. They treat you with respect just for having lived so long. Actually they seem surprised that you can walk and talk sensibly.
So please, folks, try to make it to 80. It’s the best time of life. People forgive you for anything. In response to the question of what years were the most difficult, an 80-year-old responded “those between 10 and 70.” Life begins at 80.
1. According to the passage, how old is the writer now?| A．Eighty. | B．Seventy. | C．Sixty. | D．Not known. |
| A．They are often mad at him. | B．They make fun of him. |
| C．They talk loudly to him. | D．They offer help to him. |
| A．They are not respected by other people. | B．They are often forgetful. |
| C．They can’t understand other people. | D．They are afraid of death. |
| A．negative | B．serious | C．humorous | D．passive |
4 . He hurried around the room, touching everything he could reach. I followed, attempting to intercept (拦截) him before he reached the hallway. He approached the front desk and knocked over all the papers on the table. I assisted him firmly in collecting them. I sensed eyes watching me, judging my parenting skills.
I should have realised that arriving so early would not have been wise. It was my mistake to arrive early, as the long wait was difficult for my child. I kept searching my bag and found a ball, which finally attracted him. A couple waited for their child. They stared at me and my son, and I heard the words “out of control”. I could feel my face flush red. I wanted to tell them that my son has a disability and that he’s not being bad; he’s just having trouble waiting. I sat down and watched him play with the ball, and I tried my best not to cry.
The instructor called the group together, and my son went off to play sports with the other five-year-olds. I prayed that this time he would follow the rules. I closed my eyes and wished him to be okay.
“He’ll be fine.” I opened my eyes and looked beside me. “He’ll do great. You are doing great. You are a great mom. I can see it in all that you do for him,” a lady sat on my right said.
She told me about her brother and her parents and all that her mom did for her brother over the years. She told me about how he turned out great, got a job and lives on his own now. We sat and talked, and I felt the tension leave my body.
Before I knew it, the doors opened, and all the kids ran out, including my own, filled with excitement and pride. “I did it!” he exclaimed. I picked him up. I turned to thank the lady, but she was gone.
1. What might others in the waiting room expect the author to do?| A．Apologize to them. | B．Make her child behave. |
| C．Get out of the room. | D．Take her son to the doctor’s. |
| A．His own temper. | B．His mother’s love. |
| C．A physical disability. | D．Difficulty in waiting. |
| A．Her sincere attitude. | B．Her family’s experience. |
| C．Her brother’s suffering. | D．Her sympathy for the author. |
| A．True and kind words can change the world. |
| B．It is difficult for a child to behave himself. |
| C．Be more patient to a child with disability. |
| D．Wrong words will make the world worse. |
5 . In my opinion, my mother has the ability to do anything, especially chores such as ironing and cooking. However, teaching her how to use the Internet is as frustrating as untangling (解开) wires.
Once, my mother came to me to ask for help on how to find a recipe for all-beef Lasagna. I gave her very simple verbal instructions—go to the home page of a particular search engine and type in “recipe for all-beef Lasagna.” Fifteen minutes later, she came to me, telling me that she was unable to find the Internet icon. I went over to the computer and pointed out the icon to her.
Another fifteen minutes went by when I felt a tap on my shoulder. This time, my mother said that she was unable to search for the particular recipe. Gritting (咬) my teeth, I walked to her room again. I saw that she had typed “all beef La saga” instead. With frustrated strokes, I keyed in the correct spelling.
Yet another fifteen minutes went by again when my mother gingerly tapped my shoulder. I stormed next door without bothering to hide my frustration. The main page of the website had not shifted one bit. I then realized that she did not know how to scroll(滚动屏幕) down the page. What had initially seemed like an easy task was turning out to be an intense one.
To avoid being disturbed again, I decided to find the recipe for her. Without a word, I rapidly downloaded a few recipes, printed them out and passed them to my mother. However, seeing her embarrassment, I began to regret my impatience.
At that moment, memories flashed through my mind. When I was young, my mother endured my endless questions, enlightening me with much patience. Now that I am older, the roles slowly reverse. As my mother may increasingly need my help, shouldn’t I rethink how to respond to her needs?
1. Why does the author gave her mother very simple instructions at first?| A．Because she was an impatient person. |
| B．Because she didn’t want to be disturbed. |
| C．Because she wanted to make them easy to follow. |
| D．Because she thought it was an easy task to do. |
| A．Delighted. | B．Embarrassed. | C．Frustrated. | D．Impatient. |
| A．The author becomes more willing to help her mother. |
| B．The author’s mother becomes more patient to her. |
| C．The author’s mother doesn’t turn to her for help any more. |
| D．The author learns more recipes with her mother. |
| A．It’s never too old to learn. | B．Action speaks louder than words. |
| C．Patience is the mother of success. | D．Understanding means standing in other’s shoes. |
Here is a positive to-do list for the upcoming year:
Start facing your problems head-on. It isn’t your problems that define you, but how you react to them and recover from them.
Start being honest with yourself about everything. Be honest about what’s right, as well as what needs to be changed. Be honest about what you want to achieve and who you want to become. Be honest about every aspect of your life.
Start valuing the lessons your mistakes teach you.
Start forgiving yourself and others. We’ve all been hurt by our own decisions and by others.
Start cheering for other people’s victories. Notice what you like about others and tell them. Be happy for those who are making progress. Cheer for their victories. Be thankful for their blessings openly.
| A．Forgiveness is the medicine. |
| B．Mistakes are the stepping stones of progress. |
| C．Start being nice to the people around you. |
| D．Start spending time with right people. |
| E．Problems will not disappear unless you take action. |
| F．It doesn’t mean you’re wiping out or forgetting the past. |
| G．Because you are the person you can forever count on. |
7 . There is one thing that everyone wants more than anything else.
Other people believe that if they know enough they will find this thing.
What is it that everyone wants more than anything else? What is it that all of us keep working and striving for each day?
Happiness is a strange thing.
| A．Happiness means the same to everyone. |
| B．Read what different people have said about happiness. |
| C．They study all their life in search of it. |
| D．When one man feels happy, another man will feel sad. |
| E．Some people try to get it by making money. |
| F．It does not mean the same to all men. |
| G．It is happiness. |
8 . Growing pains and gains
It’s not easy to grow up. Actually it’s far from easy. Growing up can be a real “pain” for some of us. We are always doing things that someone else makes us do and aren’t allowed to do all the things we like. Sometimes we feel stuck, sometimes we are fearful, and sometimes we just don’t understand why we can’t stay young forever. When we look back on all the challenges in life with a positive attitude, we realize that all of our growing pains actually turn into growing gains!
As a young girl my parents forced my sisters and me to do so many things that I never liked. They made me learn to play the violin and then the piano. At that time I hated music, just because it was what they wanted me to do. But looking back now, I am so glad that my parents encouraged me to take music lessons. Music has enriched my life in so many ways. I realize that my parents and teachers were always pushing me along. not because they wanted me to suffer(受苦)but because they wanted me to succeed in life. They’ve always wanted me to have a better life than they did themselves.
Every moment of our lives is either living or dying, so live life to its fullest! We are all going to experience growing pains, but they are just small pains in life. They might seem so huge at the time but we must be strong. Think about how we would feel if we had no fear and live life like that. The future is ours!
A little hard work and sweat never hurt anyone! If we realize that these pains are just small bumps(凸块)on our road to success we will realize that our growing pains are actually growing gains!
1. According to paragraph 1, we learn that when we are young, ______.| A．life is full of joy |
| B．life is easy for us |
| C．we know we can stay young forever |
| D．we sometimes can’t do things we like |
| A．take music lessons |
| B．turn gains into pains |
| C．look back on challenges |
| D．live a successful life |
| A．Directly. | B．Completely. | C．Carefully. | D．Terribly. |
| A．Growing pains are necessary for us to grow up. |
| B．We all have to experience growing pains. |
| C．A little hard work and sweat are harmful to us. |
| D．Life without fear is a better choice for us. |
9 . A teacher decided to let her class play a game. She told each child in the class to bring along a bag with several tomatoes. Each tomato would be given a name of a person that the child hated. So the number of tomatoes in his or her bag would depend on the number of people the child hated.
When the day came, every child brought some tomatoes with the name of the people he or she hated. Some had two tomatoes. Some had three tomatoes. Some even had five tomatoes. The teacher then told the children to carry the tomatoes with them wherever they went for a week. Days passed, and the children started to complain because the rotten (腐烂的) tomatoes let out terrible smell. Besides, those having five tomatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After one week, the children were very happy because the game had finally ended.
Then the teacher told them the meaning behind the game. The teacher said, “This is the same situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The terrible smell of hatred will pollute your heart, and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot stand the smell of rotten tomatoes for just one week, can you imagine what it is like to have the smell of hatred in your heart for your lifetime?”
1. The teacher asked students to give each tomato a name of a person they _________.| A．knew | B．helped | C．disliked |
| A．unhappy | B．scared | C．surprised |
| A．善意 | B．憎恨 | C．遗憾 |
| A．hatred can make us happy and it’s good for our health |
| B．carrying our hatred for someone will make our life hard |
| C．hatred has a strange taste which make us polluted |
10 . Forgiving doesn’t mean saying the pain doesn’t matter or what the other person said or did was OK. It doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. It means letting go of your need for an apology. It means making peace with past hurt and pain. It means choosing to move on. All of this is easy to say, hard to do. But forgiveness can happen in a series of small steps over time.
Take your feelings seriously. Forgiving doesn’t mean shrugging your shoulders and saying “Oh, well.” Cry, feel sad, throw things hard, or write angry passages in your diary to get rid of some of the stress. Talk with trusted friends or family to ask for advice to help find solutions to your problems. You have the right to feel hurt and angry. But suffering these feelings over time does you great harm.
Make a difference in your life. I’ve seen that many miss the opportunity for getting back a good relationship with someone else because they just wait for the apology that may never come. Others stay stuck in anger long after the other person has stopped to be a part of their lives. Make a decision to make a difference for yourself. That may be forgiving or being the first to reach out to the other so that you can move on with your own life.
Forgive yourself and engage in positive self-talk. Although you may mainly blame the other person, it’s important to forgive yourself with positive self-talk. Feel certain that you can learn from this and move on. Tell yourself that you will survive this pain and that life will get better because you can make a choice to let go.
Try understanding the other. This doesn’t reduce your pain but may make what happened more understandable. Understanding doesn’t forgive hurtful behavior, but understanding can help to get rid of your anger and to forgive.
Realize that forgiveness benefits you most of all. The other person may never know about your forgiveness. But forgiving and letting go can lighten the load on your body and on your spirit.
1. What does forgiving mean according to the text?| A．The pain the other person brought you isn’t very serious. |
| B．What the other person has said or done doesn’t hurt you. |
| C．You don’t care and have forgotten what happened to you. |
| D．You needn’t the other person to say sorry to you any more. |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Objective. | D．Uncertain. |
| A．Wait for your friend’s apology. |
| B．Take the initiative (主动性) to say hello to your friend. |
| C．Try your best to forget your problem. |
| D．Have positive self-talk. |
| A．How to forgive other people. |
| B．Forgiveness is helpful for us all. |
| C．Understanding can help forgive others. |
| D．Life gets better if you choose to forgive. |
