Even before my father left us, my mother had to go back to work to support our family. Once I came out of the kitchen, complaining, “Mum, I can’t peel potatoes. I have only one hand.”
Mum never looked up from sewing. “You get yourself into that kitchen and peel those potatoes,” she told me. “And don’t ever use that as an excuse for anything again!”
In the second grade, our teacher lined up my class on the playground and had each of us race across the monkey bars, swinging from one high steel rod to the next. When it was my turn, I shook my head. Some kids behind me laughed, and I went home crying.
That night I told Mum about it. She hugged me, and I saw her “we’ll see about that” look. The next afternoon, she took me back to school. At the deserted playground, mum looked carefully at the bars.
“Now, pull up with your right arm,” she advised. She stood by as I struggled to lift myself with my right hand until I could hook the bar with my other elbow. Day after day we practiced, and she praised me for every rung I reached.
I’ll never forget the next time, crossing the rungs; I looked down at the kids who were standing with their mouths open.
One night, after a dance at my new junior high, I lay in bed sobbing. I could hear Mum came into my room. “Mum,” I said, weeping, “none of the boys would dance with me.”
For a long time, I didn’t hear anything. Then she said, “Oh, honey, someday you’ll be beating those boys off with a bat.” Her voice was faint and cracking. I peeked out from my covers to see tears running down her cheeks. Then I knew how much she suffered on my behalf. She had never let me see her tears.
1.Which of the following expressions can be used most suitably to describe Mum’s attitude when she made the child peel potatoes?
A. Cautious B. Serious
C. Strict D. Considerate
2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 imply?
A. Mum believed every aim could be achieved if you stuck to it.
B. The race across monkey bars was not difficult enough for a child to give up.
C. Mum was determined to prove she herself was better than the teacher.
D. What the child had said brought Mum great attraction and curiosity.[
3.When the child looked down at the kids, they were standing with their mouths open because ________.
A. they felt sorry for what they had done before
B. they were afraid the author might fall off and get hurt
C. they wanted to see what the author would do on the bars
D. they were astonished to find the author’s progress
4.The most probable conclusion we can draw after reading the passage is ________.
A. the last incident was sad enough to make Mum weep
B. the child’s experience reminded Mum of that of her own
C. Mum could solve any problem except the one in the last paragraph
D. Mum suffered more in the process of the child’s growth actually
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Two recent studies have found that punishment is not the best way to influence behavior.
One showed that adults are much more cooperative if they work in a system based on rewards. Researchers at Harvard University in the United States and the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden did the study.
They had about two hundred college students play a version of the game known as the Prisoner’s Dilemma. The game is based on the tension between the interests of an individual and a group. The students played in groups of four. Each player could win points for the group, so they would all gain equally. But each player could also reward or punish each of the other three players. Harvard researcher David Rand says the most successful behavior proved to be cooperation. The groups that rewarded the most earned about twice as much in the game as the groups that rewarded the least. And the more a group punished itself, the lower its earnings. The study appeared last month in the journal Science.
The other study involved children. It was presented last month in California at a conference on violence and abuse. Researchers used intelligence tests given to two groups. More than eight hundred children were aged two to four the first time they were tested. More than seven hundred children were aged five to nine. The two groups were retested four years later, and the study compared the results with the first test. Both groups contained children whose parents used physical punishment and children whose parents did not.
The study says the IQs of the younger children who were not spanked were five points higher than those who were. In the older group, the difference was almost three points. The more they are spanked, the slower their mental development.
1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the second study?
A. Children’s IQs have much to do with physical punishment.
B. The study is about violence and cooperation of children.
C. The children tested were divided into groups of four.
D. Children’s mental development only relies on their IQs.
2. What does the underlined word “spanked” refer to?
A. punished B. blamed C. tested D. praised
3.What might be the best title for the text?
A. The Best Way to Correct Misbehavior
B. Punishment Is the Best Way of Education
C. Cooperation Is the Most Successful Behavior
D. Punishment or Reward: Which Works Better on Behavior?
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
The sharing economy has grown in recent years to include everything from apartment sharing to car sharing to community tool sharing. Since 2009, a new form of sharing economy has been emerging in neighborhoods throughout the US and around the world—— Little Free Library. The libraries are boxes placed in neighborhoods from which residents can withdraw (取出) and deposit (存入) books. Little Free Libraries come in all shapes and sizes. Some libraries also have themes, focusing on books for children, adults, or tour guides.
In 2009, Tod Bol built the first Little Free Library as a gift to his mother, who was a devoted reader. When he saw the people of his community gathering around it, exchanging conversation as well as books, he knew he wanted to take his simple idea further. “I think Little Free Libraries open the door to conversations we want to have with each other,” Bol said.
Since then, his idea has become a movement, spreading from state to state and country to country. According to Little FreeLibrary.org, there are now 18,000 of the little structures around the world, located in each of the 50 US states and 70 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia.
The Internet has helped to spread Little Free Libraries. But an Atlantic article says the little structures serve as a cure for a world of e-reader downloads. The little wooden boxes are refreshingly physical and human. For many people, the sense of discovery is Little Free Libraries’ main appeal. “A girl walking home from school might pick up a graphic novel that gets her excited about reading; a man on his way to the bus stop might find a volume of poetry that changes his outlook on life,” says the Atlantic article. “Every book is a potential source of inspiration”.
1. How do Little Free Libraries get their books?
A. The communities bought them.
B. Tod Bol donated them.
C. US government provided them.
D. Citizens shared them.
2.Why did Tod Bol want to build more Little Free Libraries?
A. They can offer neighbors more chances to talk.
B. He was inspired by the sharing economy.
C. He wanted to promote his idea worldwide.
D. They are a gift to please his mother.
3.What does the author of the Atlantic article believe?
A. Little Free Libraries are more popular than e-reader downloads.
B. E-reader downloads are undoubtedly beneficial.
C. Little Free Libraries are physical and human.
D. The Internet has helped to spread Little Free Libraries.
4. Little Free Libraries attract readers most in that ________.
A. they are in various shapes and sizes
B. they are located all over the world
C. they connect strangers together
D. they may give readers a sense of discovery
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
iPhone owners are vainer and spend more on clothes and grooming (仪容) than those who have BlackBerrys and Android phones, new research claims.
BlackBerry owners earn the most and are more likely to have long-term relationships, while people with Android handsets are most creative and the best cooks.
The study, carried out by TalkTalk Mobile, surveyed 2,000 owners of the three major smartphone brands to determine whether the choice of handset was an extension of their personality. The study rated users in various walks of life using a point scoring system including personalities, daily habits and the type of industries they work in.
Other results from the study found that people with an iPhone are more image conscious and generally rate themselves more attractive than those with other handsets. They are most likely to describe themselves as adventurous, bright and are most likely to work in media, publishing and education. They also believe their boss rates them highly. Apple owners also tend to have done more travelling and are the most active on social media sites.
BlackBerry owners were found to be the least punctual, but despite putting in the least hours at work they are the most active phone user — sending more texts and making more calls in the average day than any other phone user. They are more social and have more friends overall. They also earn nearly two and a half thousand pounds a year more than other smartphone owners, with an average salary of $27,406. BlackBerry users classed themselves so loud and mainly work in the health, finance or property sectors. They were also found to drink more tea and coffee each day than any other phone user.
Android owners were found to watch more TV than others and drink the most alcohol — consuming more in an average week than iPhone and BlackBerry drinkers. They have the most jobs in engineering, the government and public services and environmental services. They have the best manners and are more shy and relaxed than their counterparts.
Dan Meader, Director of Mobile at TalkTalk, said, “Many of us have our mobile phones on us almost constantly so they do become an extension of us in many ways. It’s interesting to see then how the choice in handset may reflect different aspects of personality and the results do show some unusual differences.”
1.The underlined words “image conscious” (Paragraph4) mean “caring about ________”.
A. income B. appearance
C. social media D. interpersonal relationships
2. What were Android users found to be like?
A. Loud. B. Brave. C. Polite. D. Confident.
3. Dan Meader may agree that the kind of mobile phone we use ________.
A. will decide the way we live our life
B. can be a window into the lives we lead
C. can change our personalities gradually
D. has become the most important part of our life
4.How is the text organized?
A. By drawing comparisons. B. By giving reasons only.
C. By providing examples. D. By giving solutions.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Do you know what a big dream is? 1. Or, is a big dream something that provides only entertainment? Children dream big dreams, but there are three barriers to realizing dreams. They often kill them before they ever have a chance to grow.
The Self
Immediately following the birth of a big dream, a negative self-talk takes over and gives all the reasons why it cannot happen. This inside voice is the ego (自我). It’s there for protecting and should be listened to. 2. Most people are influenced by the inside voice. That’s why only a handful of people make their dream come true.
3.
Family and friends are a lot like the ego. They want to protect those they love, so they will often list all the reasons why the big dreams won’t come true. Sometimes, family and friends destroy dreams of those they love most, out of their own fear of being left behind.
The World
If one gets past the first two barriers, one has to face the world. 4. In the past, big dreamers were locked up and sometimes even killed when they were shown to the world. Fortunately, in most of the world today, big dreamers just get laughed at.
The way to realize a big dream is with confidence and action. When children have confidence and then take action, they will be ready to accept any failure. The truth is that every great dreamer whose dreams have never seen the light of success knows failure well. 5.
A. Family and Friends
B. How Big Dreams Die
C. Does a big dream show one’s future?
D. They simply fail until they succeed.
E. Sometimes it is right, but more often it is wrong
F. It is the last and the most terrible barrier.
G. And their big dream is to be a rock star or a famous artist.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
完形填空,阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
It was in my high school science class. I was doing a task in front of the classroom with my favorite shirt on.
A ________ came, “Nice shirt,” I smiled from ear to ear. Then another voice said, “That shirt belonged to my dad. Greg’s mother works for my family. We were going to ________ that shirt away, but gave it to her ________ .” I was speechless. I wanted to hide.
I ________ the shirt in the back of the closet and told my mum what had happened. She then dialed her ________ , “I will no longer work for your family,” she told him. That night, Mom told my dad that she couldn’t clean anymore; she knew her life’s ________ was something greater.
The next morning she ________ with the personnel manager at the Board of Education. He told her that without a proper education she could not teach. So Mom decided to ________ a university.
After the first year in college, she went back to the personnel manager. He said, “You are ________ , aren’t you? I think I have a ________ for you as a teacher’s assistant. This opportunity deals with children who are mentally challenged with little or no chance of________ .” Mom accepted the opportunity very ________ .
For almost five years, as a teacher’s assistant, she saw teacher after teacher give up on the children and quit, feeling ________ . Then one day, the personnel manager and the principal ________ in her classroom. The principal said, “We have watched how you ________ the children and how they communicate with you and admire your hard-working ________ over the last five years. We are all in agreement that you ________ be the teacher of this class.”
My mom spent more than 20 years there. ________ her career, she was voted Teacher of the Year. All of this came about because of the ________ comment made in the classroom that day. Mom showed me how to handle ________ situations and never give up.
1.A. noise B. tune C. sound D. voice
2.A. throw B. take C. carry D. get
3.A. otherwise B. anyhow C. instead D. actually
4.A. settled B. pushed C. presented D. put
5.A. teacher B. director C. employer D. adviser
6.A. success B. encouragement C. purpose D. victory
7.A. went B. met C. worked D. stayed
8.A. visit B. continue C. attend D. prepare
9.A. serious B. fortunate C. careful D. responsible
10.A. career B. position C. duty D. part
11.A. judging B. learning C. obeying D. imagining
12.A. patiently B. eagerly C. successfully D. skillfully
13.A. guilty B. frightened C. upset D. ashamed
14.A. looked up B. went up C. took up D. showed up
15.A. believe B. protect C. receive D. treat
16.A. action B. intention C. spirit D. attempt
17.A. must B. ought C. might D. should
18.A. At B. On C. During D. With
19.A. worthless B. thoughtless C. hopeless D. helpless
20.A. strange B. different C. dangerous D. challenging
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
语法填空
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
There is 1. old Spanish Proverb which states, “Tomorrow is often the 2. (busy) day of the week”. How many 3. (time) have we put off our dreams until tomorrow? I’d say, too many. Our dreams should not, and cannot wait. We have to go for them now! Here are the reasons.
Tomorrow is not promised. Nobody likes to talk about 4. (dead), but the reality is—— 5. is going to die at one point. None of us know the day, or the hour. Therefore, today is all we have. Don’t go to your grave 6. unfulfilled dreams. Make the decision to go after every dream, big or small right now.
You’ll be much 7. (happy) if you go for it. Imagine how much happier you’ll be 8. you’re living the life you always dreamed about. The only thing 9. is stopping you is yourself. Take control of your own happiness. Don’t keep your dreams 10. (wait). Go after them today!
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文，文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
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：在错的词下划一横线，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。
As we all know, travelling can be an excited experience. Let me give you some advices that you have to pay attention. You can find out more about your destination by surf the Internet before you set out. You needn’t take too many cash. Since it can be very convenient to pay in cash, using cheques is much more reliable. In additional, it will be wise of you to take an umbrella in case of it should rain. And if you are to travel abroad, you’d better understand the cultural diversity. Keep it in mind that being politely in foreign countries can help you had a wonderful trip.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
书面表达
假设你是学生李华，得知好朋友William在学习中感到压力很大，学习效果甚微，请你给他写一封电子邮件，帮助他放松身心，提高学习效率。
内容要点：
1. 快乐学习，保持愉快的心情；
2. 积极参加体育活动，如打乒乓球、听音乐等；
3. 多与同学交流，互相鼓励。
注意：1.词数100左右，开头和结尾已经为你写好。
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
难度: 中等查看答案及解析