Mike the Headless Chicken Festival
In 1945, farmer Lloyd Olsen attempted to cut off the head of Mike, a chicken, so his wife could cook it up for dinner. However, the bird didn’t die and lived another year and a half, making regular trips to the fair, where people paid a quarter to see the amazing headless bird.
Today, the spirit of Mike the Headless Chicken is celebrated with a two-day May festival in Fruita, Colorado, which includes live music, a golf tournament and lots of delicious chicken.
Roswell UFO Festival
In the summer of 1947, a flying saucer (碟状物) crashed on a large farm outside the town of Roswell, New Mexico. The government says it didn’t come from outer space, while many top UFO researchers believe it did.
Knowing a good thing when it crashes in their backyard, the citizens of Roswell celebrate the event every July with a three-day festival that features a costume contest, a parade and other activities. Be careful, though — that strange little person next to you could be from another planet!
World’s Largest Rattlesnake Roundup
The rattlesnake, a poisonous American snake, serves an important function in nature by keeping small pests under control, but when their numbers grow too large, they can cause serious problems for farmers. That’s why every March the residents of Sweetwater, Texas, host a three-day festival in association with the town’s annual rattlesnake hunt.
Visitors can learn about rattlesnakes, take a bus tour of their natural habitat, participate in a rattlesnake eating contest and so on.
Bug Fest
Every September, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh sponsors a daylong festival that focuses on something most people try to avoid: insects.
Visitors can hold bugs that are not native, cheer on racing insects and learn about beekeeping. But the highlight for many is Café Insecta, where bugs are the main ingredient in a variety of tasty dishes.
1.T Lloyd Olsen cut off the chicken’s head because ________.
A. his family wanted to eat it
B. he wanted to sell its meat at the fair
C. his family wanted to celebrate a headless chicken festival
D. he wanted to make money by showing a headless chicken
2.By writing the underlined part, the author wants to ________.
A. imply that he may attend the festival
B. add an air of mystery to the festival
C. describe the fun of the costume contest
D. remind readers that creatures from another world do exist
3.What’s the purpose of the World’s Largest Rattlesnake Roundup?
A. To increase the local tourism.
B. To protect rattlesnakes’ habitats.
C. To control the population of rattlesnakes.
D. To introduce the importance of rattlesnakes.
4.Which of the following is the earliest festival of the year?
A. Mike the Headless Chicken Festival.
B. Roswell UFO Festival.
C. Bug Fest.
D. World’s Largest Rattlesnake Roundup.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I wrote a business plan the other day. I gave it to my husband for suggestions. After reading it, he said, “I don’t think this is up to your usual standards.” I said, “I need more information. What doesn’t work?” He said he wasn’t sure. I then took the letter and reread it.
He asked, “How about if I look at it again and make notes between the space?” I agreed. A half hour later I looked at his notes and told him he didn’t understand the situation and what I really wanted to express. He shrugged (耸肩) and said OK. I took the letter and went back to my computer and again revised. As I was writing, I could see my letter improving based on his suggestions. When I finished, I proudly handed the letter back to my husband. He read it for the third time and said, “It’s still not right but I couldn’t exactly say.” I was a little annoyed and then told him I was the writer and I had seen some goofy letters he sent out. But I picked up my letter and went back to the computer.
After an hour of revisions, I went back to my husband apologetically with letter in hand. I told him I was sorry for what I’d said and asked if he would please read the letter again because I did value his contribution. Being a very patient and kind-hearted fellow, he once again read my letter and declared that it was fine.
This all leads me to the following: When you ask for advice on a project, be appreciative and grateful. Understand that the advice and suggestions you get may be negative. Understand that it may mean more work for you. And keep in mind that the final responsibility for the project is still yours. So be modest and thankful even if he or she has noted some problems.
1.Why did the author give her business plan to her husband at first?
A. To show off her excellent work.
B. To have him type it on the computer.
C. To ask him to make some changes from all details.
D. To ask him to give her some advice.
2.The author’s husband shrugged after hearing her words because he ________.
A. believed in his judgement but couldn’t find why
B. knew there was nothing wrong in the business plan
C. doubted about himself since he found no excuses
D. believed he himself was right and knew the roots
3.We can infer from the passage that the author’s husband was _________.
A. selfish, proud and determined
B. good at expressing himself
C. honest, kind and patient
D. humorous, active and careful
4.The author wants to tell us that if you ask for suggestions, ________.
A. do accept all suggestions from the givers
B. don’t get upset if some are negative
C. do keep silent before taking action
D. do be grateful and confident
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The advantages of using flashcards to build up a vocabulary are well known. You can buy sets of cards, or make your own, and carry them with you wherever you go. There’s no question this is useful and because you can use them in short bursts, it’s not too much for you. It can be fun. I don’t recommend drilling for hours at a time with flashcards.
If you want to use flashcard software, things get even better. There are many packages out there for maintaining and drilling flashcards. I recommend VTrain though there are many others.
One stands out, however: SuperMemo. Similar to Pimsleur, SuperMemo is engineered according to a carefully researched methodology (方法学) in order to test you on a card the very minimum number of times you need to see it for it to stick. When you look at a card, you give some feedback to the software on whether you got it right and how easy you found it. It uses this information, and that of your previous attempts, to decide when you will be shown the card next. It’s smart and it really works.
If you’re like me, the news is even better! I have a version of SuperMemo that runs on my PalmOS phone. Wherever I am, if I have my phone handy, I have thousands of flashcards with me too. Honestly, it would be worth purchasing a cheap Palm device only for this. You can pick one up for $20 or even less on eBay or elsewhere. Consider it, at least.
1.With SuperMemo, whether the next card will be shown depends on ________.
A. the time you look at the card
B. the information in the computer
C. the feedback one gives to the software
D. the times one attempts to do with a card
2.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Using cards to study can be very tiring.
B. Don’t need to study with flashcards too long at a time.
C. There is not enough flashcards software at present.
D. Flashcard software can be carried wherever you go.
3.What is the main purpose of the author in writing the passage?
A. To introduce to us a way to build up a vocabulary.
B. To teach us how to make flashcards.
C. To suggest us buying flashcards.
D. To tell us how to use flashcard software.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
For years people had told our founders, motivational speakers Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, inspiring stories about themselves. Jack and Mark included these stories in their talks, and their audiences repeatedly asked if they had ever been published. Eventually, Jack and Mark decided to collect the best 101 stories they’d been told and put them in a book. They called it Chicken Soup for the Soul because they wanted it to provide comfort, just like their grandmothers’ cooking.
They took the book to New York, hoping to sell it to one of the big publishers, but every single one turned them down. The project appeared to have stalled until they met Peter Vegso. Peter read some of the stories and loved them, so he decided to give the book a chance, becoming Chicken Soup for the Soul founding publisher.
Chicken Soup for the Soul turned into one of the most popular and loved books ever published, selling 11 million copies around the world. Today, we’ve published more than 250 books and Chicken Soup for the Soul has become the best-selling trade paperback book series of all time.
People have connected with Chicken Soup for the Soul books deeply. Years ago, we started getting letters from readers asking for more, not just more books, but other things, too. Jack and Mark recognized that Chicken Soup for the Soul had grown into something much bigger than the book series they had created. So, in 2008, William Rouhana, Amy Newmark and Robert Jacobs bought Chicken Soup for the Soul from them. Today, we have a line of comfort foods, including healthy and balanced pet foods. We’re online now with our forums, apps and a YouTube channel. We’re working hard on a new Chicken Soup for the Soul TV show and a movie. Meanwhile, we are still collecting stories from our readers and the public, just like we’ve done since the beginning. We have new books coming out almost every month. We’re always looking for ways to share happiness, inspiration and wellness through everything we do.
1.The first Chicken Soup for the Soul ________.
A. was published by Peter Vegso
B. was Jack and Mark’s own experiences
C. encouraged people to be speakers
D. told stories that happened in kitchens
2.The underlined word “stalled” in paragraph 2 means “________”.
A. stopped making money
B. stopped following the original plan
C. stopped achieving progress
D. stopped attracting the attention of big publishers
3.Jack and Mark sold Chicken Soup for the Soul because ________.
A. they lost interest in it
B. it deserved expansion
C. readers got tired of the series
D. it could be sold at a high price
4.What’s the text mainly about?
A. The popularity of Chicken Soup for the Soul.
B. Publishing in different periods.
C. The importance of readers’ support.
D. The history of Chicken Soup for the Soul.
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。
Nowadays it’s not easy to find a suitable job. Follow these tips, and possibly you can find a job that suits your personality.
● List your strong and weak points
Before you start your job search, take some time to think about your strong and weak points. 1. If you are excellent at managing your time, for example, a job in project management, or one that involves organizing others, could be perfect.
● Ask others for their opinions
Although you should know yourself better than anyone else, there are times when a second opinion is needed. 2. They may come up with ideas that you haven’t considered. You should, however, make sure that they aren’t so protective of you that they persuade you not to push yourself, or encourage you so much that you aim too high.
● Find out what potential jobs involve
3. Make sure you do as much research as possible to determine exactly what you will have to do. An office job may sound very safe if you are shy, but if you then find that you have to give regular presentations, you may not be cut out for it after all.
● 4.
When looking for a job, many people have an idea of what they would like to be in the future. However, that is often little more than a dream and, even if it’s possible to reach that goal, it may involve years of hard work that you don’t enjoy. 5. If you can find a job that mirrors what makes you happy in life, it is likely that you will enjoy it and it will match your personality type.
A. Take a personality test.
B. Consider what delights you.
C. Think about what makes you happy and then analyze why.
D. Finding a job that suits your personality is very easy and interesting.
E. Ask your friends and family what sort of job they think would suit you best.
F. Sometimes, it isn’t immediately obvious what a job will involve until you start it.
G. More importantly, think about how they would affect your ability to do particular jobs.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和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。
A few years ago, I started therapy (治疗). I kept it a secret ________ it felt like it wasn’t the kind of thing I could tell anyone. I felt it was ________, and I was ashamed of it. ________ I felt I was the only one. It seemed that everyone but me was able to ________ things on their own. ________ of my friends or family needed help like that. But on an occasion, I ________ my secret to one of my good friends.
Guess what ________? As I started letting other people know that I was in therapy, some of them started telling me the ________ thing! It seemed that once I told them that I would understand their ________, it was safe to tell me. We didn’t have to keep this a(n) ________ from each other any more.
One friend close to me ________ that she went on antidepressants(抗抑郁) after her mother’s death. Another friend has been ________ for being blue ________ he was in college. My hairdresser had been on medication ________ obsessive compulsive disorder (强迫症). All of them said they felt comfortable to be able to ________ the information. I felt like I found support in my ________ and I wasn’t alone, just from ________ their stories.
It has made me realize that none of us are ________. Also, there’s no ________ in trying to hide them when you are having ________. It’s better to be open and honest.
1.A. because B. although C. if D. unless
2.A. surprising B. exciting C. worrying D. satisfying
3.A. Immediately B. Slowly C. However D. Worse
4.A. remove B. handle C. deal D. accept
5.A. Some B. All C. Most D. None
6.A. let out B. let down C. set out D. set off
7.A. appeared B. continued C. happened D. existed
8.A. different B. same C. difficult D. important
9.A. news B. delights C. topics D. problems
10.A. secret B. order C. rule D. puzzle
11.A. thought B. suggested C. explained D. warned
12.A. punished B. treated C. injured D. praised
13.A. before B. for C. when D. since
14.A. according to B. because of C. judging by D. instead of
15.A. share B. hide C. correct D. find
16.A. victory B. success C. struggle D. failure
17.A. reciting B. hearing C. copying D. reading
18.A. strong B. healthy C. wrong D. perfect
19.A. point B. doubt C. courage D. ability
20.A. performances B. riches C. difficulties D. dreams
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。将答案填写在答题卡的相应位置。
Qingdao lies in the east of Shandong Province. As we all know, it is an important port city and it is an economic and 1. (culture) center. It is also home to the Tsingtao Brewery and the 2. (large) international beer festival in China. Of course Qingdao is a very beautiful city, too. Many places around the city are well worth 3. (visit). Every year, the festival 4. (hold) on schedule. Millions of visitors 5. come from the world go to the city during the festival.
It is very convenient to go to Qingdao. It is 6. (rough) 560 kilometers from Beijing with an average travel time of one hour and 10 minutes by air and five hours by high-speed train. It is 693 kilometers from Shanghai, and 7. (take) about one hour and 25 minutes by air. There are also frequent direct 8. (flight) from Qingdao to the Republic of Korea and Japan. The city’s airport is connected 9. 61 domestic cities and 16 overseas cities, with more than 3,000 planes arriving 10. taking off each week. Warmly welcome to Qingdao！
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
下面是一段短文，请你对其进行修改。文中共有10处错误，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：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
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。
Xihaigu is in the southern part of the Ningxia Hui autonomous region. Locating on the Loess Plateau(黄土高原), it faces rain lack and extreme poor living conditions. The UN had regarded it as one place that is difficult to live in. So in spite of the tough conditions, there are quite few rural teachers who work there. They do your best to perform their various duty with great devotion. China currently has over to 3 million rural teachers teaching more than 40 million rural children. According by the Ministry of Education, between 2010 and 2013, the number of rural teachers falls from 4.73 million to 3.3 million.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假定你是李华，想去一家敬老院(nursing home)当志愿者。请给该院负责人Ms Wang写封信。信的内容包括：
1.为什么要当志愿者；
2.有什么技能和特长；
3.如何当好志愿者。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
难度: 中等查看答案及解析