Nine years ago, after Leo had died, people said to me. "I never knew he was your stepfather." You see, I never called him that. At first, he was no one special in my life. Then he became my friend. In time, I felt he was also my father.
Leo married my mother when I was eleven. Two years later we moved into a house in a new suburban development, where we put down roots. At first our lawn was just a mud with wild grass, but Leo saw bright possibilities. "We'll plant trees there to give us shade as well as some flowers," he said. And just these little touches made our house different from all the others. More important, a real family was forming. Leo was becoming a full-time parent, and I was learning what it meant to have a father.
Weekday mornings when the weather was bad, Leo often drove me to school. Having a father drop you off may have been something my classmates took for granted, but I always thought it was wonderful. Saturday mornings, we went to the hardware shop, then stepped into the five-and-ten, buying a sports magazine or something else. Some people might think that doing shopping together is nothing special, but I, who had ever before spent my childhood watching other families do their everyday activities, experienced them now with extreme delight. Looking back, I realized that Leo gave me what I needed most—the experience of doing ordinary things together as a family.
Soon after we moved to the suburbs, one of our new neighbors introduced herself to me. She had already met my mother and Leo. "You know," she said, "you look just like your father." I knew she was just making conversation--but even so... "Thank you", I said. Why tell her anything different?
1.The writer's purpose in writing this passage is _______.
A．to show his pride to have a good stepfather
B．to show how interesting a person Leo was
C．to remind us of our parents
D．to explain why they moved to the suburbs
2.The phrase “put down roots”in the second paragraph means _______.
A．farmed B．planted C．settled D．worked
3.In the writer's opinion, _______.
A．it is not easy to live with a stepfather
B．not all the stepfathers are as good as Leo
C．the husband and wife must think more about their children before they divorce
D．in stepfamilies the love and friendship are extremely precious
4.The last sentence “Why tell her anything different?”means that _________.
A．he should have told the truth
B．he wouldn't tell her the truth
C．he wanted to tell her something that had nothing to do with Leo
D．he wanted to keep silence whenever he met the neighbors
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Will Nanfang University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen announce a new beginning for China’s higher education reform? It’s too early to answer. But its presence is challenging the Ministry of Education. Even without the approval of the ministry it seems that the school is determined to move forward and enroll 50 students, so-called child prodigies(奇才), to begin classes on March l, 2011.On graduating in 2015, these students will receive a diploma unauthorized by the Ministry of Education----unlike the students of their age from the state-run universities.
The school is committed to modeling itself on Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, but if the government will not approve the school, the situation could cause a lot of trouble for those 50 students if they want to do graduate studies at other higher learning institutions. Other schools could turn their applications down for their unauthorized diplomas.
The difficulties, however, have not frightened students and their parents away. On Dec.18, 2010 more than 1,000 students and their parents visited Nanfang University of Science and Technology for interviews.
Private investment marks the school out from other higher learning institutions in the nation. Not a penny comes from the government. So the government will have no voice in how the school will be run.
The Ministry of Education has published a comprehensive plan for education reform and development between 2011 and 2020.The goal is to make China’s higher education internationally competitive. To accomplish this goal, the government should have the courage to let the educators who have big ideas try them out. The ministry should have applauded the independence. The school in Shenzhen has shown and encouraged more to do likewise.
Education reform in China has reached a new and crucial stage. Nanfang University of Science and Technology has a long way to go to prove itself competitive rather than a diploma mill.
1.Over 1,000 students and parents visited the school because _________.
A．they believe that the school will have a bright future
B．they believe the government is sure to approve the school
C．the school models itself on Hong Kong University successfully
D．they will never do graduate studies at other higher learning institutions
2.The trouble the students in the school may have is that ________.
A．the government will have no voice in the school
B．they won’t receive any diploma when graduating from the school
C．other schools are unlikely to accept their diploma from the school
D．they will not learn how to be competitive
3.What does the author think of Nanfang University of Science and Technology?
A．It is another kind of diploma mill.
B．It’s impossible for the school to be competitive.
C．It will never get the approval from the Ministry of Education.
D．Its independence from the government may benefit the education reform.
4.What is the best title of the passage?
A．University of New Style.
B．China’s Education Reform.
C．Modeling Hong Kong University.
D．Authorized or Not?
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Sparrow is a fast-food chain with 200 restaurants. Some years ago, the group to which Sparrow belonged was taken over by another company. Although Sparrow showed no sign of declining, the chain was generally in an unhealthy state. With more and more fast-food concepts reaching the market, the Sparrow menu had to struggle for attention. And to make matters worse, its new owner had no plans to give it the funds it required.
Sparrow failed to grow for another two years. Until a new CEO, Carl Pearson, decided to build up its market share. He did a survey, which showed that consumers who already used Sparrow restaurants were extremely positive about the chain, while customers of other fast-food chains were unwilling to turn away from them. Sparrow had to develop a new promotional campaign.
Pearson faced a battle over the future of the Sparrow brand. The chain’s owner now favored rebranding Sparrow as Marcy’s restaurants. Pearson resisted, arguing for an advertising campaign designed to convince customers that visits to Sparrow restaurants were fun. Such an attempt to establish a positive relationship between a company and the general public was unusual for that time. Pearson strongly believed that numbers were the key to success, rather than customers speeding power. Finally, the owner accepted his idea.
The campaign itself changed the traditional advertising style of the fast-food industry. The TV ads of Sparrow focused on entertainment and featured original songs performed by a variety of stars. Instead of showing the superiority of a specific product, the intension was to put Sparrow in the hearts of potential customers.
Pearson also made other decisions which he believed would contribute to the new Sparrow image. For example, he offered to lower the rent of any restaurants which achieved a certain increase in their turnover (营业额).
These efforts paid off, and Sparrow soon became one of the most successful fast-food chains in the regions where it operated.
1.Which was one of the problems Sparrow faced before Pearson became CEO?
A. The number of its customers was declining
B. Its customers found the food unhealthy
C. It was in need of financial support
D. Most of its restaurants were closed
2.What does the underlined word “them” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. customers of Sparrow restaurants
B. Sparrow restaurants
C. customers of other fast-food chains
D. other fast-food chains
3.For what purpose did Pearson start the advertising campaign?
A. To build a good relationship with the public.
B. To stress the unusual tradition of Sparrow.
C. To learn about customers’ spending power.
D. To meet the challenge from Marcy’s restaurants.
4.What was Pearson’s achievement as a CEO?
A. He managed to pay off Sparrow’s debts.
B. He made Sparrow much more competitive.
C. He helped Sparrow take over a company.
D. He improved the welfare of Sparrow employees.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Lost iPhone
Unexpectedly, I lost my white iPhon5s in Midtown on Friday night. It had a blue green cover on it. There are many pictures of my son on it, and I’m heartbroken. Please return, no questions asked. Reward. Reply to: 2652255359@craigslist.org
Do you need a babysitter that you can trust?
My name is Tina. I am a responsible babysitter that you can trust. If you are looking for someone dependable and affordable I am that person! I HAVE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE (including disabled children) ! I am a retired Home Health Aid and absolutely love children. I work with my sister Iris who has also 20+years as a teacher’s assistant. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETINC YOU! Available 24 hours and flexible with fees! I am fully bilingual—Spanish/English. Please email me or call 712-867-7688.
I BABYSIT ONLY AT MY HOME.
I accept children from all ages. Fee starts from $100-$150 a week depending on the hours. I am very flexible and my fee can change. Feel free to contact me via email or on my cell phone 566-67-1873 and we can work something out.
Part-time Chinese Babysitter Wanted
Part-time Chinese speaking babysitter needed to assist with one-year-old twins and to perform some light housework as needed. Assistance needed Fridays and occasional weekends. Please provide your salary expectation. College students are welcome to apply.
Reply to: 2652113885 @craigslist.org
1.Who posted the lost and found information?
A . A mother B. A kind woman
C. A heartbroken girl D. A parent
2.What do we know about Tina?
A. She can speak two languages.
B. She lives alone now.
C. She takes care of children over 3.
D. She used to be a teacher’s assistant.
3.If you want to send your kids to the babysitter’s home, you can find one in______.
A. Ad 1 B. Ad 2 C. Ad 3 D. Ad 4
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The Internet has opened up a whole new online world for us to meet, chat and go where we’ve never been before.
But just as in face to face communication, there are some rules of behavior that should be followed when on line. 1. Imagine how you’d feel if you were in the other person’s shoes.
For anything you’re about to send: ask yourself, “Would I say this to the person’s face?” if the answer is no, rewrite and reread. 2.
If someone in the chat room is rude to you, your instinct （本能）is to fire back in the same manner. But try not to do so. 3. If it was caused by a disagreement with another member, try to fix the situation by politely discussing it. Remember to respect the beliefs and opinions of others in the chat room.
4. Offer advice when asked by newcomers, as they may not be sure what to do or how to communicate. When someone makes a mistake, whether it’s a stupid question or an unnecessarily long answer, be kind about it. If it’s a small mistake, you may not need to say anything. Even if you feel strongly about it, think twice before saying anything. Having good manners yourself doesn’t give you license to correct everyone else. 5. At the same time, if you find you are wrong, be sure to correct yourself and apologize to those that you have offended.
It is not polite to ask others personal questions such as their age, sex and marital status. Unless you know the person very well, and you are both comfortable with sharing personal information, don’t ask such questions.
A. It’s natural that there some people who speak rudely or make mistakes online.
B. Repeat the process till you feel sure that you’d feel comfortable saying the words to the person’s face.
C. Everyone was new to the network once.
D. The basic rule is simple: treat others in the same way you would want to be treated.
E. When you send short messages to a person online, you must say something beautiful to hear.
F. You should either ignore the person, or use your chat software to block their messages.
G. If you do decide to tell someone about a mistake, point it out politely.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Valentine’s Day is the time of the year when couples show their love for each other by sending cards，flowers and chocolates. Its origins are1.________(clear) and hidden in the river of time. Nobody knows exactly 2.________St.Valentine was，although some historians suggest he was 3.______Roman killed in the third century AD by a Roman Emperor. It is said that the first4._______(record) Valentine’s card was sent by the imprisoned Duke of Orleans in 1415. 5._______is believed that he tried to find comfort from his imprisonment by writing love poems to his wife.
Now，Valentine’s Day 6._______(celebrate) in many countries around the world. However, the traditions often differ from place to place. In Japan，for example，it is normal 7._______the woman to send chocolates to the man, 8._______in South Korea April 14th is known as “Black Day” and is when the unfortunate men who received nothing on Valentine’s Day gather to eat noodles and show sympathy for each other.
Technological 9._______(develop) have also played their part 10.______ keeping Valentine’s Day relevant in the 21st century. Valentine’s ecards have been very popular in recent years.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
I had arrived at the airport about 30 minutes before the check-in. It had been a very busy three days for me with lots of meetings. So I was to have the extra time to make my notes on what I needed to do the day. But then the announcement that my flight had to be delayed there was a problem with the plane.
As I sat waiting for my flight I reflected on my last meeting of the day. It was not a business meeting rather a very enjoyable lunch with an old business friend I had not seen for over 12 years. Our lunch was spent recalling times as well as filling each other in on what in our lives over the last 12 years. We both laughed and smiled as we recalled the good times and the great we had shared together. At the end of our time together, we both said we had enjoyed it and we must do it again.
It was great to have this additional time to in my mind all that we had talked about. I realized just how important it is to have regular of the good times in your life. I was lucky enough to the chance to take a short break and reflect on the good things that had happened in my life over 12 years.
It was like looking at an old photo album stored away in a cupboard in your house. There before your eyes are lots of wonderful memories that you back to times and places, and most importantly those people who are in the photos.
My flight was finally called three hours later. I smiled as I boarded the plane and realized that I was upset about the delay in the flight，as I had been able to spend the time on the good times from days gone by．
1.A. regretful B. glad C. unlucky D. sorry
2.A. following B. other C. another D. first
3.A. spoke B. went C. made D. came
4.A. until B. although C. because D. when
5.A. to be called B. being called C. called D. be called
6.A. also B. still C. yet D. but
7.A. passed by B. gone by C. known D. remembered
8.A. had suffered B. had happened C. had spent D. had expected
9.A. experiences B. adventures C. sorrows D. hardships
10.A. how many B. how nice C. how much D. how exciting
11.A. it B. this C. what D. that
12.A. retell B. replay C. react D. reply
13.A. reminders B. belongings C. impressions D. recommences
14.A. have B. had C. had had D. have had
15.A. somehow B. anyway C. somewhat D. anyhow
16.A. catch B. take C. fetch D. pay
17.A. to B. for C. in D. of
18.A. meeting B. home C. business D. office
19.A. not a little B. very much C. much too D. not a bit
20.A. focusing B. concentrating C. reflecting D. depending
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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(Λ)，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。
I was working in a beer company, helped the president do something important. At the same time, my mother was in the final stages of the cancer. I worked during the day and drive 40 miles home to be with her every night. It was tired, but it was that I wanted to do. I didn’t want to bother the president with my trouble, yet I felt someone at the company needed to know about it. So I told a friend and asked him not to share the information with someone. Therefore, the president called me into his office one day. He faced me from across her large desk, looked at me and said, “Alice, I hear your mother is very ill.” I was caught by surprise and burst into tear. He just gentle said a sentence I will never forget: “Whatever you need.”
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假如你是李华，你校学生会于2012年2月15日下午举行了“校园书市（a campus book fair）”活动。请你写一封email给你美国的笔友Peter, 告诉他此次活动的有关情况，内容包括：
活动目的：①给同学们提供一个交换图书的机会；②更好地利用读过的书。
具体内容：①把你不想保留的书拿到书市上出售；②购买你喜欢的书；③交换图书。
谈谈你的感想和收获体会。
注意：1. 文章开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
2. 词数：120左右
Hello Peter! How are you going these days?
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Love,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析