1 . From now on, never spend your precious time thinking of reasons for your failures and shortcomings. Instead, realize that the seeds of success were planted within you when you were born. Only you have the power to make those seeds grow.

The seeds, and the power to grow them, are contained in the most awesome machine ever created: the human mind. Success is a choice and not a chance. You were born a winner: You can be a success if only you make the right choice.

You cannot be successful without first developing your self-esteem. Your level of self-esteem is always based on the degree of control that you are able to exercise over yourself, and thus over your life. People with low self-esteem are people who do not believe that they have any power, or responsibility for their lives. They are leaves tossed (摇摆) by the winds of chance blown about with any sudden change in the weather.

You can exercise control over your life only to the degree that you believe that you are responsible for everything that happens in your life. Failures think that everything happens by accident and chance. Successful people realize that they are responsible.

Everything happens as a result of something. If we can identify the cause, we can control the effect. We are responsible for what we choose to think and believe. One generally rises to the level that one expects. We are responsible for letting out expectations. Our success is dependent upon our level of confidence.

In short, in all areas of your life, whether they be financial, physical, emotional, or spiritual, you are responsible. Once you recognize this, accept it, and firmly believe it, you are on the road to success.

1. People with low self-esteem are compared to leaves because they_______.

A．can’t exercise control over themselves	B．are ready to change their minds
C．don’t have the power to face their fate	D．are easily affected by windy weather

2. Losers would think that ______.

A．success is the result of hard work	B．their failure is only because of bad luck
C．they don’t make efforts to succeed	D．working hard will lead to success

3. It can be inferred from paragraph 5 that_______.

A．success is a chance	B．we are what we make us
C．thoughts and beliefs are the result of creative mind	D．developing confidence is the only way to future success

4. The last paragraph serves as_______.

A．the proof of the author’s points	B．the conclusion of the argument
C．an introduction to another topic	D．a comparison between two views

2 . I have dreamed of taking a trip to Hawaii since I graduated, but the best thing always needs waiting.

I took a trip with my friends to Haleakala National Park, which lies in Hawaii.

When we arrived at Haleakala National Park, we were advised to watch the early morning sunrise. I was lost in the sightseeing (观光) that afternoon, so I could hardly wait to see the sunrise. The next morning, we all got out of bed very early and got to the seaside at 3 o’clock. In the first half an hour, we imagined how wonderful it would be when the first light came out through the thick clouds and how soft it would be when the light touched our skin, so we waited and waited. However, another half an hour later, I gradually lost my patience since there was nothing but the chilly darkness, and I felt that I was frozen to death. (冻死) But my friends were still extremely cheerful.

Nearly another one hour later, “Amazing!” Judy burst out and we all shouted to welcome the light, which was really unbelievable. Until today, I dare say that it is the most impressive sunrise in my life. However, waiting in the morning darkness is also one memory I can’t forget forever.

Waiting sometimes is really a hard thing for most of us as it needs patience and strong-willed determination (决心) , but what about the result after that? It might turn out to be pleasing and unbelievable. So, it is really worth (值得的) waiting for the best.

1. What can we learn from the passage?

A．he author’s friends and the author took a trip to China.

B．Hawaii is a good place to enjoy the sunrise.

C．Sometimes, it is worth waiting for the best.

D．The author enjoyed the worst sunrise in his life.

2. When did they see the first light of the sunrise?

A．About 3 o’clock.	B．About 4 o’clock.
C．About 5 o’clock.	D．About 6 o’clock.

3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word in Paragraph 2?

A．Total.

B．Cold.

C．Terrible.

D．Interesting.

4. How did the author feel when waiting for the sunrise?

A．Excited all the time.	B．Afraid all the time.
C．Firstly excited then afraid.	D．Firstly excited then impatient.

3 . People are always afraid of making mistakes. But sometimes it’s not bad to make mistakes, and here is why.

At first, mistakes are a clear sign that you are trying new things. It’s always good to try new things, because when you are trying new things you are growing. If you never try new things, how can you improve? How can you create? The simple answer is, “You can’t.” Look around you, everything you see is the result of someone trying new things.

Another good thing about mistakes is this: when you are making mistakes, you are learning. Consider this: Edison failed 10,000 times before he invented the light bulb. When he was asked how he felt to fail that many times, he said that he hadn’t failed 10,000 times, but rather had learned 10,000 things that didn’t work.

Finally, when you make a mistake, you are that much closer to success. Why? Because you have said what you should say, and you have done what you should do. Every time you make a mistake, you are closer to success. But it doesn’t mean that you can make mistakes without thinking. Instead, when you try new things you have to think them over, so that you can keep away from some unnecessary mistakes.

We shouldn’t spend all our time and money on the only one way, but use them correctly. Because our time and money are limited (有限的).

There is an old saying, “If you are not making mistakes, you are not trying hard enough.” So go bravely and make mistakes. And learn. And grow. And succeed.

1. If you making a mistake, that means ________.

A．you’re careful

B．you’re kind

C．you’re growing

D．you know nothing

2. If you never try new things, you can’t ________.

A．improve

B．create

C．spend

D．A and B

3. After Edison failed 10,000 times, he ________.

A．gave up	B．invented the light bulb
C．invented the computer	D．invented 10,000 new things

4. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Never make mistakes	B．You can make mistakes without thinking.
C．Sometimes it’s good to make mistakes	D．Making mistakes is terrible.

4 . There are many principles(原则) and values all people live by. The _________that I live by is honesty. I have always been taught that lying will just get me into more trouble than I might already be _________. Being honest is a _________ all people need to have and use to go _________ in life.

Ever since I was a little kid, my parents have _________ me to be honest _________ it is the right thing to do. As I got _________, I realized something very important that could _________ the way people take me to be a person. If just once you stop being honest and tell a lie, it will _________ change people’s opinion of you and their whole way of acting __________ you. When you tell a lie, you lose that person’s __________ forever or have to work your whole life to get it back.

It is my personal __________ to achieve great things in life and honesty will sure help me get there. For me right now losing somebody’s trust would be a truly __________ thing. Whatever you do for a living or __________ you live, honesty is something important for all of us.

Honesty gets you much higher in life than getting into more __________ like lying . Lying can __________ get you into trouble dealing with the government. Honesty is just as important to me as my family. Already, I know it is something that will __________ my future and my relationship with all people. It is something about myself that I hope to never __________ no matter what happens. Most of all honesty will help me no matter whether I’m at school, home or just __________ with friends. It is something I hope my children will also have and __________.

1.

A．profession

B．career

C．law

D．contract

2.

A．in

B．into

C．on

D．onto

3.

A．character

B．personality

C．quality

D．specialty

4.

A．slowly

B．down

C．fast

D．far

5.

A．advised

B．taught

C．made

D．ordered

6.

A．in case

B．so that

C．although

D．because

7.

A．stronger

B．elder

C．older

D．taller

8.

A．change

B．ensure

C．accept

D．exchange

9.

A．possibly

B．totally

C．hardly

D．nearly

10.

A．toward

B．like

C．against

D．forward

11.

A．confidence

B．hope

C．trust

D．interest

12.

A．goal

B．intention

C．arrangement

D．purpose

13.

A．surprising

B．fascinating

C．unacceptable

D．horrible

14.

A．Whenever

B．wherever

C．whichever

D．whomever

15.

A．questions

B．accidents

C．problems

D．incidents

16.

A．even

B．easily

C．surely

D．still

17.

A．break

B．destroy

C．improve

D．strengthen

18.

A．meet

B．lose

C．own

D．miss

19.

A．hanging over

B．hanging on

C．hanging out

D．hanging up

20.

A．interest

B．regret

C．bore

D．appreciate

5 . The sun was shining brightly over our heads and sweat (汗水) was pouring off our backs and faces. We stood still without ______ any noise, all hot and tired. But everyone kept standing as straight as trees.

It was ______ most high schools give to new Senior One students — military training (军训). We spent four days in a closed environment. ______ we couldn’t go home at night and the training was ______ and difficult, our humorous young drillmaster (教官) with a funny accent (口音) was a real ______ of our days. We laughed ______ his jokes, sat in rows singing different songs and listened to him telling true stories about his life. He gave us the feeling that ______ and sweat were not the only things that we received from military training.

After this journey, we were more ______ than we had imagined and we were much braver than we had expected. Girls who looked sick rested for a little while, then ______ came back to the team. Boys who were being punished ______ to the playground at once and began to run. Sweat flowed down our faces ______ we thought about how to shout ______ than other classes.

Military training taught us perseverance (坚持不懈) and determination (决心). On the last day of our training, the confidence could be ______ in our faces. We shouted so loud that our ______ could be heard across the heavens. With eyes like burning torches (火炬), we walked into the future. Now the sun is ______ at all of us.

1.

A．crying

B．making

C．sending

D．telling

2.

A．nothing

B．anything

C．something

D．everything

3.

A．Because

B．If

C．Although

D．After

4.

A．strict

B．curious

C．outgoing

D．awkward

5.

A．challenge

B．pleasure

C．title

D．expert

6.

A．at

B．in

C．to

D．with

7.

A．sunlight

B．wealth

C．confidence

D．health

8.

A．surprised

B．determined

C．interested

D．advanced

9.

A．just now

B．so far

C．right away

D．at last

10.

A．escaped

B．moved

C．rode

D．rushed

11.

A．so

B．when

C．or

D．until

12.

A．larger

B．stronger

C．louder

D．lower

13.

A．seen

B．heard

C．smelt

D．touched

14.

A．thoughts

B．feelings

C．personalities

D．voices

15.

A．improving

B．falling

C．setting

D．smiling

6 . Almost everything was fantastic in the nature camp except for a girl, Elizabeth. When I saw her _________ alone in the hot sun at lunch, I asked her to eat with us under a shady (阴凉的) tree. However, Elizabeth refused my kind ___________. When we invited her to play volleyball with us, Elizabeth ___________ our invitation, too. After a few more unfriendly refusals like that, I decided to stay away from Elizabeth.

It ___________ that we were going on a nature ___________ and that our instructor paired everyone up with a partner. Guess who my partner turned out to be? It was Elizabeth!

“What do you like to do ___________?” I asked, trying to make small _________ as we started out. “I like to walk in peace and quiet,” Elizabeth replied. So we had the quietest and most peaceful hike in the world ___________ we saw a bird. “I think his wing is hurt. Poor little bird,” Elizabeth said ___________. “He might be taking a rest over there,” I said. Elizabeth nodded. Then she whispered, “But what if he’s in ____________, like my granddad?” “Your granddad?” I said. “He fell and broke his leg the day the camp started. He’s ____________ in hospital and is in so much pain,” Elizabeth explained. I noticed she was __________. “I’m sorry for what I have done. For some reason, whenever I get really sad, I act __________ and want to be alone,” she added.

“I get it,” I said. “I don’t always know how to ________ it when I’m feeling down, either.” “Thanks,” she said, wiping off her tears.

After that, Elizabeth seemed to get along well with us, and I think she actually __________ the last days of the camp.

Next time, if someone is unfriendly, give him a second chance. Maybe he’s going through a difficult time.

1.

A．sleeping

B．sitting

C．protesting

D．disappearing

2.

A．proposal

B．help

C．symbol

D．order

3.

A．turned over

B．turned in

C．turned out

D．turned down

4.

A．seemed

B．appeared

C．looked

D．happened

5.

A．talk

B．discussion

C．issue

D．hike

6.

A．for free

B．for ever

C．for fun

D．for certain

7.

A．mistakes

B．talks

C．changes

D．promises

8.

A．unless

B．though

C．until

D．since

9.

A．happily

B．coldly

C．sadly

D．luckily

10.

A．silence

B．pain

C．peace

D．trouble

11.

A．still

B．yet

C．already

D．ever

12.

A．smiling

B．crying

C．drawing

D．suffering

13.

A．nicely

B．properly

C．rudely

D．naturally

14.

A．ruin

B．recognize

C．repair

D．solve

15.

A．enjoyed

B．planned

C．hated

D．avoided

7 . Today, I’ll tell you a story about a boy who was the son of a horse trainer. When he was a pupil, he was _________ to take out a piece of paper to write on it about what he wanted to do when he _________.

That night he wrote on the paper saying his goal was to _________ a horse farm someday. He made a drawing to show a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream farm. The next day he handed it in to his _________. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a _________ that read, ‘‘See me after class.”

The boy went to see the teacher after class and asked ‘‘Why did I receive an F?” The teacher said, “This is not a _________ dream for a young boy like you. There’s _________ you could ever do it.” Then the teacher _________,’’If you rewrite this paper with a better goal, I will consider your grade again.”

However, the boy _________ the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my __________.”

I’m the right boy and you are seated in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse farm. I still have that school __________ framed (装裱) over the fireplace.

The best part of the story is that last summer the __________ schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my farm for a week. When he was leaving, he said __________, ‘‘Sorry, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. __________, you had enough courage not to give up yours.”

Don’t let anyone __________ your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.

1.

A．addicted

B．attracted

C．frightened

D．requested

2.

A．settled down

B．grew up

C．gave in

D．came through

3.

A．enjoy

B．design

C．exchange

D．own

4.

A．teacher

B．partner

C．relative

D．friend

5.

A．summary

B．title

C．note

D．schedule

6.

A．true

B．big

C．peaceful

D．clear

7.

A．no doubt

B．no way

C．no need

D．no luck

8.

A．warned

B．ordered

C．disagreed

D．added

9.

A．set down

B．turned in

C．believed in

D．turned to

10.

A．power

B．praise

C．dream

D．behaviour

11.

A．report

B．bag

C．paper

D．textbook

12.

A．honest

B．same

C．awkward

D．confused

13.

A．sincerely

B．anxiously

C．exactly

D．actually

14.

A．Instead

B．Obviously

C．Finally

D．Luckily

15.

A．build

B．support

C．steal

D．challenge

8 . When the great library of Alexandria burned, the story goes, one book was saved. But it was not a valuable book and a poor man got it.

The book wasn’t very interesting, but between its pages there was something very interesting indeed. It was a thin strip of vellum (羊皮纸) on which was written the secret of the “Touchstone (点金石)”. The touchstone was a small pebble that could turn any common metal into pure gold. The writing explained that it was lying among thousands and thousands of other pebbles that looked exactly like it. But the secret was this: The real stone would feel warm while ordinary pebbles are cold.

So the man sold his house, bought a tent, camped on the seashore and began testing pebbles. He knew that if he picked up normal pebbles and threw them down again because they were cold, he might pick up the same pebbles hundreds of times. So, when he felt one that was cold, he threw it into the sea. He spent a whole day doing this but none of them was the touchstone. Yet he went on and on this way. Pick up a pebble. Cold — throw it into sea. Pick up another. Throw it into the sea. The days stretched into months and the months into years.

One day, however, about mid-afternoon, he picked up a pebble and it was warm. He threw it into the sea before he realized what he had done. He was used to throwing each pebble into the sea as soon as he picked it up. So when the one he wanted came along, he still threw it away.

So it is with opportunity. Unless we are careful, it’s easy to fail to realize an opportunity when it is in hand and it’s just as easy to throw it away.

1. According to the passage, the touchstone is a stone ________.

A．that you can touch

B．that can turn common metal into pure gold

C．that can bring you thousands of pebbles

D．that can bring you good luck

2. The man threw the touchstone into the sea because ________.

A．it was cold

B．it was a normal pebble

C．he was too tired to hold it

D．he had formed a habit

3. How did the man probably feel when he realized it was the touchstone?

A．Excited.	B．Moved.
C．Interested.	D．Regretted.

4. What does the writer want to tell us?

A．Opportunity knocks but once.

B．Use it or lose it.

C．Where there is a will, there is a way.

D．Practice makes perfect.

9 . It was the last day of the final examination in a university. On the steps of one building, a group of students who majored in engineering were talking about the exam that was going to begin in a few_____.On their faces was confidence. This was their last exam—then they would face _____ and jobs.

Some talked of jobs they already had; others talked of jobs they would get. With the certainty of four years of college, they felt ready and able to take _____ of the world.

The coming exam, they knew, would be an easy task. The professor had said they could_____ any books or notes they wanted to take the exam, only requesting that they should not _____ each other during the test.

Joyfully they entered the examination room. The professor handed out the papers. And smiles _____ on the students’ faces as they noticed there were only five essay－type questions(问答题).

Three hours had passed_____ the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces were frightened expressions. No one spoke as the professor faced the class with papers in his hands.

He looked at the _____ faces before him, and then asked, “How many completed all five questions?”_____ a hand was raised.

“How many answered four?” Still no hands.

“Three? Two?” The students moved restlessly (不安地) in their seats.

“One, then? Certainly somebody finished _____.”But the class remained silent.

The professor put down the papers.“That is exactly what I _____，” he said.“I just want to impress upon you that，_____ you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many questions about the _____ you don’t know. These questions you couldn’t answer are relatively (相对地)valuable in everyday practice.” Then smiling, he added, “You will all _____ this course, but remember even though you are now college graduates, your education has just begun.”

The years have _____ the name of this professor, but not the lesson he taught.

1.

A．seconds

B．minutes

C．hours

D．days

2.

A．interview

B．discussion

C．education

D．graduation

3.

A．care

B．control

C．order

D．place

4.

A．borrow

B．read

C．bring

D．buy

5.

A．listen to

B．look at

C．refer to

D．talk to

6.

A．appeared

B．changed

C．froze

D．stopped

7.

A．then

B．as

C．before

D．after

8.

A．pleased

B．worried

C．surprised

D．moved

9.

A．Not

B．Once

C．Only

D．Even

10.

A．all

B．none

C．one

D．it

11.

A．wondered

B．enjoyed

C．hated

D．expected

12.

A．as

B．because

C．now that

D．although

13.

A．exam

B．subject

C．question

D．college

14.

A．pass

B．fail

C．take

D．start

15.

A．forgotten

B．remembered

C．strengthened

D．weakened

10 . Convincing someone to change their mind is really the process of convincing them to change their tribe (部落). If they abandon their beliefs, they run the risk of losing social ties. You can’t expect someone to change their mind if you take away their community too.

The way to change people’s minds is to become friends with them, to combine them into your tribe, to bring them into your circle. Now, they can change their beliefs without the risk of being abandoned socially.

The British philosopher Alain de Botton suggests that we simply share meals with those who disagree with us: “Sitting down at a table with a group of strangers has the incomparable and odd benefit of making it a little more difficult to hate them. Prejudice and conflict between groups of people from different nations or races feed off abstraction. However, during a meal, something about handing dishes around, unfolding napkins (餐巾纸) at the same moment, even asking a stranger to pass the salt makes us less likely to hold the belief that the outsiders who wear unusual clothes and speak in distinctive accents deserve to be sent home or attacked. For all the large-scale political solutions which have been proposed to ease racial or cultural conflict, there are few more effective ways to promote tolerance between suspicious (猜疑的) neighbours than to force them to eat supper together.”

Perhaps it is not difference, but distance that produces tribalism and unfriendliness. As proximity increases, so does understanding. I am reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s quote, “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” Facts don’t change our minds. Friendship does.

The Japanese writer Haruki Murakami once wrote, “Always remember that to argue, and win, is to break down the reality of the person you are arguing against. It is painful to lose your reality, so be kind, even if you are right.”

When we are in the moment, we can easily forget that the goal is to connect with the other side, cooperate with them, befriend them, and integrate (使...融入) them into our tribe. We are so caught up in winning that we forget about connecting. It’s easy to spend your energy labeling people rather than working with them.

The word “kind ” originated from the word “kin (old fashion of family and relatives).” When you are kind to someone, it means you are treating them like family. This, I think, is a good method for actually changing someone’s mind. Develop a friendship. Share a meal. Gift a book. Be kind first, be right later.

1. People are likely to change their mind when they ________.

A．change their beliefs	B．move to a new community
C．are made friends with	D．are given somewhere to go

2. What does the underlined word “proximity” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Nearness.

B．Action.

C．Communication.

D．Politeness.

3. The author quotes from Haruki Murakami to imply that ________.

A．breaking down one’s reality is easy

B．kindness is more important than right

C．arguing and winning are not important

D．losing one’s identity is a painful process

4. According to the passage, sharing meals is effective in building connections because it ________.

A．pleases people with different beliefs or accents

B．makes people focus on eating rather than conflicts

C．brings benefits to the people having dinner together

D．promotes understanding and tolerance among people