1 . Frank Herbert’s science fiction Dune was the first coming-of-age story that helped me survive my lonely junior high school. At age 12, my life was the tiny, boring cycle of home, school and my parents’ store. Dune cracked it all open and led me to a universe that made my little world a lot more bearable. Unlike Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye who kept breaking windows, Dune’s main character, Paul Atreides, equipped me with a junior-high survival guide.
Paul is not a classic underdog. He’s the son of a king. He’s been trained since birth in war arts, politics and critical survival skills by a group of smart and experienced men with impossible-to-pronounce names. But when his world is turned upside down-when he leaves his home, loses his father and enters a physically and politically hostile environment-he doesn’t complain and cry. He adapts.
To this day, I still can recite his words against fear: “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total destruction. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
The steady diet of literary fiction assigned by my teachers was escapist and the very act of reading (whatever the content) usually took me out of a given moment, but didn’t provide much advice on how to face my daily conflicts and painful insecurity.
Dune was escapist, too. However, it was expansive and literally redefined possibility for me who had been struggling along with eyes on the ground, just trying to make it through another day of boredom and hardship of being a teenage girl. Paul lifted my eyes up so I could see the stars.
1. Which best explains “hostile” underlined in paragraph 2?| A．Safe. | B．Unfriendly. | C．Unbeneficial. | D．Pleasant. |
| A．His good education. | B．His noble birth. |
| C．His courage to face fear. | D．His escapist attitude. |
| A．She was an optimistic girl. | B．She was not loved by her parents. |
| C．She had a carefree childhood. | D．She felt insecure and unconfident. |
| A．The Catcher in the Rye Should Be Banned |
| B．Teenagers Should Not Read Literary Fictions |
| C．Dune Became My Junior-High Survival Guide |
| D．Science Fiction Is Better Than Literary Fiction |
2 . Moving forces us to face the extraneous. File cabinets and drawers stuffed to the brim, boxes piled high in the backs of closets — why keep letters and cards that we never re-read? One card with my grandmother’s handwriting should be enough.
An unnerving yet productive strategy is to envision someone dealing with the piles of papers if you suddenly weren’t here. You instantly realize that most of your accumulation will one day be thrown into a recycling bin. The things you are saving as reminders of your past are useless to others. Sure, you may value what you keep, but worth is essentially all in your head.
In a real sense, to throw things away is to prepare to die. This is not a gloomy declaration but rather an enlivening recognition of the freedom that follows when we take ourselves less seriously. It’s the same as looking at a sky full of stars and feeling the relief of being tiny and unimportant. Awareness of the briefness of our time on earth and the impermanence of both our attachments and our sufferings can become a powerful basis for clearing things and emotions alike.
A few years ago, dear friends were called home from work to a big fire. They watched as their house burned to the ground, despite the efforts of several fire crews. Everything material, cherished things, and accumulations were reduced to ashes —clothes, photo albums, furniture, paintings, books, boxes of old letters, the piano.
By nightfall, what they had left were the clothes they had worn that day and the photos they had kept at their workplaces. At first, they felt completely collapsed, but once they emerged from the initial shock and grief, they were sustained by a lot of love from family and friends. They were alive, and this is what really mattered. It is astonishing to discover how little weight our possessions carry in this calculus of true necessity.
1. What does the underlined word “extraneous” mean in Paragraph 1?| A．Invaluable. | B．Irrelevant. | C．Suitable. | D．Necessary. |
| A．It’s useless. | B．It’s essential. | C．It’s personal. | D．It’s recyclable. |
| A．By recognizing the burden of freedom. | B．By letting oneself fade into insignificance. |
| C．By being aware of the preciousness of time. | D．By treasuring the attachments and sufferings. |
| A．To demonstrate the cruelty of a fire. | B．To stress the weight our possessions carry. |
| C．To emphasize the importance of love from friends. | D．To show the insignificance of our possessions. |
3 . Powerful Quotes To Help You Find Your Way When You Feel Lost
Everyone has moments in their lives when they feel a little lost, and it is at these times that we begin to question who we are and what the purpose of life is. Many people have struggled with similar emotions before us.
Powerful quotations about feeling lost will encourage you to search within and discover how you truly are. With all of life’s ups and downs, it’s simple to feel like your life is meaningless, that there is no hope for the future.
Perhaps you’ve become lost in your work, your relationship, or your parental responsibilities.
You need to understand that you are not alone if you’re feeling lost.
| A．The only life you can actually lead is the one that is immediately in front of you. |
| B．So follow them, set aside your concerns and allow yourself to see the life that lies ahead. |
| C．In any event, you shouldn’t let yourself become trapped in this condition of confusion. |
| D．Your current difficult situations are temporary. |
| E．Being lost is perfectly normal. |
| F．Get help from some powerful professional quotes. |
| G．However, maybe you’re experiencing a difficult time that you weren’t prepared well. |
4 . 3 Most Inspirational Stories For The Child In You
Whether you choose to share these tales with your children or enjoy a personal journey through their pages, you’re about to unwrap a fascinating world of inspiration! Now is the time to visit our web and be ready to be inspired!
Oh, the Places You’ll Go!-By Dr. SeussIn a world full of creatures and strange features living in a colorful town, there is a character who sets out on an amazing journey. This character sailed through many adventures. Facing all the challenges, this character never gave up. Do you know why? Because it is understood that life is just an exciting journey that is full of surprises. And if you are brave enough, you will find lots of opportunities just waiting around the corner.
The Little Engine That Could -By Watty PiperIn a colorful world of engines, there lived a tiny blue engine. It was small but it had big dreams! One day, the engines were entrusted (委派) with the most important task of the year: To deliver toys to children who live on the other side of the towering mountain. “It’s too hard. We can’t do it.” Said all the bigger engines. But the little engine believed in itself and set out on the mountain with effort. The little blue engine completed the task and it was only able to do this because it believed in itself!
The Rainbow Fish-By Marcus PfisterThere was an extraordinarily beautiful fish called the Rainbow Fish that had sparkling scales in the oceans. But it did not want to share its scales with other fish. Despite being so beautiful, it had no friends! One day, a wise octopus (章鱼) told the fish that we truly feel satisfied in life when we share our blessings with the less fortunate. The Rainbow Fish reflected on its own life and started sharing its scale with other fish. The Rainbow Fish made many friends that day. It discovered the joy of a true friendship.
1. If you hope your child has courage to conquer difficulties, which story you probably choose?| A．Oh, the Places You’ll Go! | B．The Little Engine That Could. |
| C．The Rainbow Fish. | D．All of them. |
| A．Itself. | B．Other fish. | C．Marcus Pfister. | D．The wise octopus. |
| A．A story book. | B．A web page. | C．A newspaper. | D．A textbook. |
5 . A little stream flowed down from a high mountain far away through many villages and forests, until it reached a desert. The stream then thought, “I’ve been through countless obstacles. I should have no problem crossing this desert!” But soon she found herself gradually disappearing into the mud and sand. After numerous tries, she found it was all in vain and was very upset. “Maybe it’s my destiny! I’m not destined to reach the vast ocean in the legend.”
At this time;a deep voice came, saying, “If a breeze can cross the desert, so can a river.”
It was the voice of the desert. Unconvinced, the little stream replied, “That’s because a breeze can fly, but I cannot.”
“That’s because you stick to what you are If you’re willing to give it up, and let yourself evaporate (蒸发) into the breeze, it can take you across, and you can reach your destination,” said the desert in its deep voice.
The little stream had never heard of such a thing. She could not accept this idea. After all, she had never experienced anything like it before. Wouldn’t it be self-destruction to give up what she was now?
“How do I know if this is true? and will I still be what I am now?” asked the little stream.
“Yes, and no. Whether you’re a river or invisible vapor, your inner nature never changes. You stick to the fact that you’re a river because you don’t know your inner nature,”answered the desert.
Deep down, the stream vaguely remembered that before she became a river, it was perhaps also the breeze that had carried her halfway up a high mountain, where she turned into rain and fell onto the ground and became what she was now. Finally the little stream gathered her courage and rushed into the open arms of the breeze; which carried her to the next stage of her life.
The course of our lives is like the experience of little stream. If you want to surpass the obstacles in your life in order to head for the destination of Truth, Virtue and beauty, you should also have the wisdom and courage to renounce (放弃) your ego (attachment to yourself).
Perhaps you can try asking yourself these questions: What is my inner nature? What is it that I cling to? and, What is it that I really want?
1. What obstacle did the stream come across when starting to cross the desert?| A．Her effortless attempt. | B．Her unrealistic goal. |
| C．Her bowing to fate. | D．All that struggle for nothing. |
| A．Confident — shocked — determined — withdrawn |
| B．Sad — determined — disappointed — shocked |
| C．Disappointed — doubted — confident — surprised |
| D．Hopeful — upset — shocked — determined |
| A．Give up what you are, and you will never owe it again. |
| B．While you change physically, your inner nature will never change. |
| C．Only by sticking to yourself can you realize your dream. |
| D．Changing yourself means losing control of everything. |
| A．When you can’t change the environment, change yourself. |
| B．Stick to your inner nature rather than what you are. |
| C．Once starting the journey, you should stick to your goal. |
| D．Be flexible and adaptable, venturing into the unknown. |
6 . I was shopping in Whole Foods Market when my cellphone rang. My daughter Julianna told me that she got the job she had applied for. She had just turned 14 and was determined to spend this summer vacation on work. The things she wants are both long-term and immediate. She wants to freely buy things from Forever 21 and save money for the famous college she’s determined to get into.
Several weeks before her birthday, Julianna asked me whether I’d allow her to work. Some of her friends’ parents wouldn’t let their kids work, wanting them to focus on their studies and enjoy the last childhood freedom for as long as possible. I understood those parents. But I wanted her to spend less time on her electronic devices in her room and more time in the outside world.
The day after her birthday, Julianna immediately applied to an amusement park, which hires teens during busy summer months. I’d never seen Julianna so active. The day before the interview, we went over possible questions, including why she wanted to work at the amusement park, its most famous attraction, and what her previous work and volunteering experiences were. She rarely talked about anything else until the interview was over.
I never worked as a young teen. My husband, though, worked as a young teen at an amusement park. He shared some funny stories about his time working there. More importantly, the work contributed to his strong work ethic (道德准则) today. Studies also show that work can contribute to healthy development and that teens who work at times are more likely to attend four-year colleges and get degrees quickly.
Julianna used to be so careful about new experiences, but now she is doing something new. I realize it’s time to put aside my doubts and worries and believe she can learn the skills she needs to take care of herself.
1. What was the author’s expectation of her daughter?| A．She could spend her free time in a relaxing way. |
| B．She could actively experience the real world. |
| C．She could pay much attention to her health. |
| D．She could do better in her studies. |
| A．She took the interview very seriously. |
| B．She wanted to improve the amusement park. |
| C．She wished to work together with her mom. |
| D．She had great confidence in getting the job. |
| A．The reason for her husband’s success. |
| B．The joy of working at an amusement park. |
| C．The relationship between work and education. |
| D．The positive influence of early work experience. |
| A．How my daughter achieved freedom and independence |
| B．How I guided my daughter through her life troubles |
| C．How I embraced my daughter’s journey of growth |
| D．How my daughter developed a new hobby |
7 . “A house without books is like a room without windows,” wrote Horace Mann, the 18th-century writer. I agree wholeheartedly with Mann.
Recently, my husband and I did a painting project in a room we use as an office, which has a beautiful wall full of built-in bookshelves. As we started to pull my valuable books down off the shelves, I felt like I was pulling plants out of the garden.
The physical act of removing every book from its spot on the shelf showed a few unexpected insights (见解).
I took the opportunity and started by grouping the books. Then I thought about the layout of the books on the shelves.
| A．A strong wave of anxiety suddenly hit me. |
| B．I regularly share books with my neighbors. |
| C．Cleaning a bookshelf might sound like a chore. |
| D．Choosing a good book to read seems like a difficult task. |
| E．Surprisingly, I realized my bookshelves had space for more than just books. |
| F．I take pride in the realization that I have books in every room of my house. |
| G．For one thing, there were many books that no longer inspired or comforted me. |
8 . I opened my car window and called out “Ma’am! Ma’am!” The only lady in the parking lot looked around until she saw me. “I just wanted to tell how nice you look today,” I said. “The colors you have on are beautiful on you.” Her face registered surprise for a second, and then she smiled. “Thank you!” she called back. Her final steps to her car seemed lighter, and I smiled to myself.
I grew up with very few cheerleaders in my own life. When I was in the middle of fighting a battle for my life, I had been confirmed depression, along with anxiety. It has taken many years and more effort and determination than I thought I was capable of recovering from this illness. With no cheerleaders in my court, I fought this battle alone. I am proud of the progress I have made thus far. There are times when I thought, if only I had had someone to hold me and say, “Susan, I believe in you. You can do this, and I’ll be there every step of the way.” I wonder how much sooner I would have recovered. I’ll never know.
So I have made it a point in recent years to praise people, especially women and girls. Instead of just thinking that someone looks nice or did a great job, I say it out loud. It doesn’t take long, and it’s easy. So, I wonder, why don’t more people do this? As women, we have learned from our role models to be quiet. We downplay (淡化) our own achievements even when we do receive a rare compliment (恭维). Now, when I compliment someone and she denies, I say to her, “Just say thank you.” Most women are relieved that they don’t have to deny the compliment; they can accept the praise without guilt.
Cheerleading doesn’t require any skills. It only takes a few seconds, although you do have to remind yourself to do it. Eventually, it becomes a habit.
1. How did the lady feel after hearing the author’s praise?| A．Delighted. | B．Anxious. |
| C．Relaxed. | D．Worried. |
| A．Her experiences. |
| B．Her habit. |
| C．Her personality. |
| D．Her ambition. |
| A．She can be rewarded. |
| B．She can be appreciated. |
| C．They can accept the praise. |
| D．They should say something. |
| A．Caring. | B．Brave. |
| C．Outgoing. | D．Honest. |
9 . There are a lot of good and logical reasons not to say what you think, especially when others disagree. Offending people isn’t nice, and it can lead to social consequences. Nodding along might seem practical or charitable, despite the fact that you are screaming disagreement on the inside. However, the true act of charity is to say what you really think. Your committing to complete honesty can be an act of love.
One of my friends takes honesty to the extreme. He calls talks with others that get to the complete truth of things, even difficult admissions in views, “love conversations”. Once two people have such a conversation, his theory goes, they can understand each other and act accordingly. As a philosophical matter, my friend’s belief of “love conversations” is Kantian. The German philosopher Kant argued that lying to others prevents them from making choices based on the truth, which is contradictory with friendship and love.
In the 1990s, Brad Blanton argued when the truth is hard to accept, telling it can have costs, including social disapproval and broken relationships. But it is worth the consequences because it can reduce stress, deepen connections with others, and reduce emotional reactivity.
Both sides can’t be right here. Either Kant, Blanton, and my friend are embracing a faulty theory, or our society is missing a big opportunity for moral growth. You might say that little white lies are a society lubricant (润滑剂). They can even seem virtuous. After telling a white lie, I sometimes pat myself on the back, turning my evil into a virtue inside my own head. Some lies might make life easier, but they don’t necessarily make life happier. I wouldn’t want my wife to tell me what she thinks I want to hear, as if we were strangers avoiding conflict, and finding out that she had done so would make me feel distrusted and therefore hurt our relationship. I don’t want a stranger to tell me she likes my writing if she doesn’t, because unreal compliments make me suspicious.
1. What can we learn from “my friend” in Paragraph 2?| A．He admits other’s views with great honest. | B．He practices Kant’s philosophical theories. |
| C．He loves to discuss philosophy with others. | D．He prevents himself from difficult choices. |
| A．stressful and emotional | B．unacceptable and harmful |
| C．thoughtless but courageous | D．challenging but deserving |
| A．To distinguish his wife from a stranger. | B．To show his wife’s honesty and virtue. |
| C．To argue for the importance of frankness. | D．To stress avoiding suspicion in marriage. |
| A．Telling the truth can be an act of love. | B．The route to happier life lies in lies. |
| C．Little white lies are actually virtuous. | D．Our society is being corrupted by lies. |
10 . I was on the train one afternoon. Our carriage was almost empty, just a few people. At one station, a drunk man suddenly entered the train. He shouted and swung his fists (拳头) at a woman holding a baby. Luckily the baby wasn’t hurt. Then he tried to kick an old woman. Everyone was scared.
I’d been learning aikido (合气道，功夫的一种) for the past three years. But I’d never fought in real life. As students of aikido, we are not allowed to start a fight. “Aikido,” my teacher always told us, “is about solving conflict, not starting it.”
I decided that this was my moment. If I didn’t do something fast, somebody might get hurt. So I stood up, ready to fight.
Just then, someone shouted, “Hey!” It was an old man. He was smiling at the drunk man. “What have you been drinking?” he asked.
“I’ve been drinking wine , but it’s none of your business!” said the drunk man angrily. “Oh, that’s wonderful,” said the old man. Then he told how he loved drinking wine with his wife and eating watermelon.
“I also love watermelon,” said the drunk man.
“And I’m sure you have a wonderful wife, too,” said the old man.
“No,” replied the drunk man. “My wife died,” Then he began to sob (啜泣), “I have no wife, no home, no job. I’m so ashamed of myself.”
“Oh, that is so difficult. Sit down here and tell me about it,” said the old man.
As I got off the train, I realized I’d just seen real aikido in action. This was the spirit of how to solve conflict.
1. What happened on the train?| A．A man was drinking wine. | B．A drunk man was acting wildly. |
| C．A baby was hurt by a man’s fists. | D．An old woman was knocked down. |
| A．Students shouldn’t learn aikido. | B．Aikido is not used to start fights. |
| C．Aikido can’t actually solve conflicts. | D．Using aikido may start conflicts. |
| A．His business went broke. | B．He had a wonderful wife. |
| C．He was living a great life. | D．He had no place to live. |
| A．There are real and fake (假的) forms of aikido. |
| B．The real spirit of aikido is to start conflict. |
| C．Fighting is not the only way to solve conflicts. |
| D．Everyone should learn aikido to protect themselves. |
