1 . What makes a sense of humour is a difficult thing to tell. Different people find different things funny, and what may seem hilarious to some might be highly rude to others. However, having a good sense of humour is important for reducing stress and getting along with others. Therefore, it’s important to think about ways to improve your sense of humour.

Look for the funny side of situations. While it can be difficult at times to find the funny side in unfortunate events when you’re having a bad day, try to think about how the situation might look like to other people, and attempt not to get too angry. Laughing over minor accidents, trips and falls will help you in preventing the loss of temper that you will regret later.

Learn some basic jokes. Some people find it hard to remember jokes, and feel left out when others are telling them. It’s worth trying to learn a few jokes that you can pull out of the bag when you need to, or regularly think about how you can turn a funny situation that occurs in daily life into an entertaining anecdote (趣闻) for later.

Look at jokes or funny cards. There are many different kinds of funny cards available, which can be a great inspiration for finding ways to improve your sense of humour. Giving an appropriate funny card to friends and family on the right occasion will show that you have a good sense of humour and are thinking about them.

Learn from friends. Look at friends that you think have a great sense of humour.   How do they deal with situations, and what kind of jokes do they make? Is there anything you can take away from their actions?

1. What does the underlined word “hilarious” in the first paragraph probably mean?

A．Extremely funny.	B．Quite harmful.
C．Greatly meaningful.	D．Quite useful.

2. How can you be humorous in tough times?

A．By looking for the funny side of situations.

B．By laughing over any accident.

C．By turning a funny situation into a joke.

D．By struggling not to lose your temper.

3. What should people do for learning some basic jokes?

A．Be active and learn from friends.

B．Be creative and get well prepared.

C．Be patient and listen to others carefully.

D．Be confident and have a good memory.

4. What would be the best title of the passage?

A．What Makes a Sense of Humour

B．How to Improve Your Sense of Humour

C．What’s Your Humour Style

D．Benefits of Humour

2 . “Have you checked the oil in the car?” my father used to say to me, his version of “Hello, hope you are well.” Sometimes our phone calls would begin with an inquiry about the oil and end with one about the oil.

Fathers have a lot of love to give, but it’s often supplied through the medium of practical advice. In my experience: it’s mostly about my motor vehicle. My student car — an old green Toyota bought for $500 — was the vehicle for which my father carved his paternal (父亲的) affections. I bet it’s always been so.

Why can’t fathers just say “I love you” or “It’s great to see you”? The point is: You just have to translate from the language that is Fatherlish. Listen closely enough and the phrase “love you” can be heard in the slightly lengthier “I could come around Saturday and replace the seal around the base of your toilet because I assume that thing is getting really smelly.” The affectionate phrase “You made my life better from the moment you were born” may be rarely heard, but there is the more common “I’ll hold the ladder while you get the leaves off the roof.”

When I was 17, I went on my first road trip in that Toyota. My father stood on the corner. “Highways are dangerous,” he said, “so don’t try overtaking anything faster than a horse and carriage. And take a break every two hours. And every time you stop for gas, you really should check the oil.” At that time we thought his speech was pretty funny and would repeat “horse-and-carriage” every time I sped up to overtake some other speeding vehicles.

Dad’s long gone now. But after all these years, I realize that had I owned a copy of the Fatherlish-to-English dictionary, I’d have understood that the speech my friend and I so laughed at was simply dad’s attempt at affection.

1. According to the passage, how do fathers usually show their love?

A．By inquiring their kids’ cars.

B．By doing rather than saying.

C．By offering helpful advice.

D．By accompanying their kids.

2. Why does the author mention certain daily phrases in Paragraph 3?

A．To show the father’s influence on kids.

B．To show a dad’s loving concern for kids.

C．To prove the usefulness of a dad’s advice.

D．To compare different versions of fathers.

3. What does the author think of his father’s speech at last?

A．Funny.

B．Pleasing.

C．Annoying.

D．Caring.

4. What is probably the best title for the passage?

A．Love in Fatherlish

B．Remembering Very Moments

C．Father’s Advice

D．My First Road Trip In Toyota

5 . Dear Alcohol,

You’ve been around forever. I can remember all the pain you’ve caused for me.

Do you remember the night you almost took my father’s life? I do. He loves you. Sometimes I think he loves you more than he loves me. He’s addicted to you, to the way you promise to rid him of his problems only to cause more of them. You just sat back and laughed as his car went spinning through the street, crashing into two other cars. He wasn’t the only one hurt by you that night.

Do you remember the night of my first high school party? You were there. My friends were intrigued by you. They treated you as if they were never going to see you again, drinking all of you that they could. I spent two hours that night helping my friends who had fallen completely. “I’m so embarrassed,” they said as I held their hair back so that they could vomit (呕吐). “I’m sorry,” they said when I called taxies for them, walking them out and paying the driver in advance. “This won’t happen again,” they said as they were sent to the hospital to have their stomachs pumped. Two 15-year-old girls slept in hospital beds that night thanks to you.

Do you remember the night when you took advantage of my 17-year-old neighbour who had to drive to pick up his sister from her dance lessons? Do you know how we all felt when he hit another car and killed the two people in the other car? He died the next morning too. His sister walked home from her dance lesson, and passed police cars and a crowd of people gathering on the sidewalk just two blocks away from the dance studio. She didn’t realize her brother was in the midst of it all. She never saw him again. And it’s all your fault.

I wish you’d walk out of my life forever. I don’t want anything to do with you. Look at all the pain you’ve caused. Sure, you’ve made people happy too from time to time. But the damage you’ve caused in the lives of millions is inexcusable. Stop luring (引诱) in the people I love. Stop hurting me, please.

Sincerely,

Anonymous

1. What happened to the author’s father?

A．It made him crash into two other cars and killed his life.

B．It made him drink too much and he had to get his stomach pumped.

C．It made him kill two other people when driving.

D．It made him get into a car accident and badly injure himself.

2. What does the underlined phrase “were intrigued by” most probably mean?

A．Were satisfied with.	B．Were disappointed with.
C．Were interested in.	D．Were familiar with.

3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．The author’s father is an alcoholic.

B．The author’s friends overdrank at the high school party.

C．The 17-year-old neighbour was killed on his way to work.

D．Alcohol brings more damage than happiness to people.

4. What can be implied from the passage?

A．The writer cannot forgive the harm of alcohol to people’s lives.

B．The writer feels regret about what he has encountered.

C．The writer is joking with alcohol in a humorous tone.

D．The writer is doubtful about the damage of alcohol.

6 . Nothing stays the same for long: things and people change.

I grew up on a small farm, where a flock of sheep wandered around the surrounding mountains. My father was not highly educated, but he was smart. He was a man made of leather and chewing tobacco who rarely tried to talk with my brother or me. He was quiet and distant, I might say.     1    

One day I came home and his car was already there.     2     In fact, when he came home, he went to the barn (谷仓) to labour even more. I still remember hiding around the corner and stealing a look at my father lying bitterly on the bed that day. Multiple myeloma, I learned, is a type of blood cancer.     3     For the last year of my father’s life, his entire day consisted of rising from his bed and walking to his chair to sit and think alone.

He was predictably in that chair on his own when I came in.     4     He told me about his life, his heartbreaks and his loves. It was as if a pipe had burst, his inner self rushing out to me in a great flood. He had been speaking for maybe an hour or more when I realized that he was doing more than telling. He was asking to be understood in a way that he had never done before.

    5     I realize, though, that if he hadn’t, I might never have come to know him and love him.

A．My father never missed work.

B．I did not like him very much.

C．He was skillful at any farm work.

D．He became better after some special treatment.

E．I’m certainly not glad that my father got sick.

F．As the disease develops, the person who has it shrinks.

G．What followed still moves me these decades later

7 . Even if you think that your parents are mean-spirited(小气的) at times, loving your parents is a normal and fulfilling part of life. You love them for the fact that they create you, raise you, and are in part, a source of who you are.     1    

Tell them you love them every morning. A gentle “good morning” and “I love you” will warm the coldest heart. Remember that they brought you into this world.

Respect them more. It is inevitable that we may disagree with our parents or be dissatisfied with them sometimes. It’s OK to get angry but angry actions don’t help you or your parents. Act calmly, cool off, write down your feelings, or talk to a friend.     2    

        Obey their requests. It will make you have a better attitude and earn you more respect from them. It may seem like you are going through hell when you don’t get what you want or you are not recognized. However, you had better remember they shelter you from rain and snow. Understand that parents are human beings and make mistakes.     3     Since you can forgive your friends, why not forgive your parents?

    4     Do things with your parents like watching TV or going somewhere with them. Anyway, spend as much time with them as you can. Listen to their old stories and learn from them. You will find they are your teachers in one way or another.

Some people simply may not be able to love their parents.     5     Seek help if you are being abused(虐待) in any way. Parents do not have a right to harm you.

A．Forgiveness is the key.

B．Keep them company.

C．Here are some ways to love your parents.

D．Parents will in turn express their love for you.

E．After these, share your feelings with your parents.

F．Please remember parents are as important as friends.

G．There can be realistic reasons for that, for example family violence.

8 . When I was growing up, Mother’s Day was as important as Christmas. The energy around the house was always positive (积极的), mostly thanks to my father who made sure that his kids appreciated their mother. We would clean the house, and Mum got breakfast in bed in the morning and didn’t have to lift a finger all day. And in the evening, we went to a restaurant for a traditional Mother’s Day dinner.

What I learned from my father over the years, was that no matter what, he always put my mother before himself. He absolutely loved her and never let her forget that. And from my parents, I learned a thing or two about how to love.

I maintain (保持) my father’s Mother’s Day tradition with my wife. Growing up, I learned that showing affection to the woman you love or who gave birth to you is an important part of life. You see, it goes both ways, and the love you have for your mother comes back to you again and again.

Believing that and feeling it when you can may keep you from being lonely, even if your mum isn’t close by or has passed away. There are a number of us who no longer have a mother in our lives, and truth be told, there are often times when I wish my mum were still here to comfort me. So instead, I remember the times she did just that. It makes me smile, and somehow, those memories of a more simple and loving life give me the comfort I’m looking for.

My wife’s mother is still around, however, and it’s great to have that “mother energy” in my life still. Having this relationship with my mother-in-law is nice because it gives me someone to be there for on Mother’s Day, and any other day of the year.

If you are mum-less, you too should find a deserving woman in your life and celebrate Mother’s Day with her. If you don’t know anyone, there are plenty of lonely mums in rest homes who would enjoy your company for a couple of hours. The visit will make both of your days, and perhaps your lives, a little bit better.

1. What did the author learn from his father?

A．It’s necessary to express love to those we love.

B．We should always put others before ourselves.

C．It’s important to have an interesting family tradition.

D．Mothe’s Day is just as important as Christmas.

2. Why does the author value the idea of showing love for one’s mother?

A．It can set a good example for kids to follow.

B．It is what mothers expect their children to do.

C．It can warm your mother’s heart as well as yours.

D．It’s important to follow your father’s rules.

3. According to the passage, which is TRUE?

A．After mother’s death, the author often felt lonely.

B．The relationship between the author and his mother-in-law is not good.

C．The author keeps Mother’s Day tradition now.

D．The author thinks Mother’s Day is more important than Christmas.

4. What is the author’s advice to someone whose mum has passed away?

A．Give all your attention to your mother-in-law.

B．Try to get used to life without a mum.

C．Turn to other family members for love.

D．Visit lonely mums in rest homes on Mother’s Day.

9 . To son, Cecil,

When I wrote this you were 8, still a little boy. In 2002, I was called to active duty in the Marine Corps in the war on Terrorism (恐怖主义). On the 11th of September 2001 when America was attacked, I knew that I would eventually have to go and I was filled with a deep sense of sadness. That night as you and Keiko were asleep, I looked at your little faces and couldn’t help but fight the tears.

I knew it would be hard for you because I had a similar experience. When I was a little boy aged 6, my Dad, your Grandpa, was sent to Vietnam during the war there. I remember how much I missed him, too. But now unfortunately I have come to realize just how rough it must have been for Grandpa to be away from his children for a year. Thinking about this, I wanted to put my thoughts and feelings down for you and your sister. I am so sorry that I had to leave for such a long time. There is no place I would rather be than with you and Keiko. You two are the lights of my life. I have known no greater joy than in the few years since you two were born. I hope to have many more years with you. If this doesn’t happen, you should know that I love you more than words can express.

If for some reason I don’t make it home, I will need you to take care of your little sister and your Mom. You will be the man of the Cawley family. Be good my son and God will watch over you as he has me. I will be waiting impatiently for the time when we can all be together again.

1. The writer felt sad because __________.

A．His country was under attack	B．His father was killed in Vietnam
C．He was afraid of the war on Terrorism	D．He had to be away from his family

2. What words could be used to describe the writer?

A．Caring and considerate.	B．Clever and responsible.
C．Brave and determined.	D．Ambitious and diligent.

3. Why did the writer write the letter?

A．To let his son know his father is a hero.

B．To express his love and expectation of his son.

C．To offer his apology for leaving his family.

D．To remind Cecil of his responsibility for his country.

10 . Many people connect gratitude with saying “thank you” to someone who helped us, making it a short act of appreciation. According to Robert Emmons, a leading researcher, gratitude is an emotion that can result in long-lasting positivity.     1    

Gratitude is good for your health.

Through his research, Emmons found that grateful people reported feeling healthier and happier, both mentally and physically.     2     In the workplace, employees who are shown that they are appreciated are healthier and more productive by 50 percent.

    3    

Gratitude is a selfless act. We often take for granted the simple things in life. Those who recognize the goodness in life, no matter how simple, are more likely to be sensitive to the needs of others and to help whenever they can. Thinking about other’s opinion, experiences and backgrounds will make you a better person.

Gratitude makes us more self-aware.

            Working in an ever-developing, fast-paced society, we are surrounded by ambitious people who are always struggling for more and better.     4     It starts by paying attention to what’s now going on in your life, and that’s true self-awareness is the key to being successful.

Gratitude helps us build strong relationship.

Gratitude is a powerful tool for strengthening relationship, both at work and in your personal life. People who express their gratitude tend to be more willing to forgive others and therefore able to create long-lasting connections.

    5     Taking the time to thank people for their work and kindness — whether it was today, last month or many years ago — makes you happier and more self-aware.

A．In fact, those who were grateful were 25 percent happier than those who weren’t.

B．Gratitude builds understanding.

C．The old saying goes “It’s never too late to say you’re sorry”, but the same is true of gratitude.

D．All in all, we feel and express our gratitude in different ways.

E．Gratitude makes you reflect (反思) in the moment instead of always thinking about the future.

F．Gratitude helps us build up self-confidence.

G．Here are a few benefits of being grateful.