Allow me to introduce you to Terry, a window salesman from England. If I could take you back about 20 years, you’d know Terry as a complete green hand, who was wet behind the ears in just about everything he attempted. A person couldn’t sell false teeth to his own Granny, let alone he could compete with the other salespeople in the industry. You know, the kind who could sell snow to Eskimos.
Terry’s boss decided to send him out on a practical field trip on his first day. So off he went, but he was extremely nervous. With his hands and his knees shaking, he approached the front door and knocked at is. And old woman appeared. After dozens of cups of tea and pieces of biscuits, the woman signed a contract and purchased over $7,000 worth of windows.
The woman had already talked with 6 excellent salesmen that week, all of whom offered her cheaper ones! That’s right---Terry’s price was the most expensive and he was also the most inexperienced salesman there ever was.
So, what happened then? Here comes the secret. The woman said she liked the young lad more than the others. That’s all there was to it. She didn’t care about the extra expense. Even the other salesmen couldn’t persuade her to pay less than this young lad was asking for.
The truth is that the young lad left on the woman the first impression that shone brighter than any of the salesman’s talk. First impressions count, not the sales techniques, not the low prices. The actual “personality” the kid honestly gave was all that was required. If you market your own products and services, consider what impression you are giving to others. If you appeal to them, then you’ve already done half of the work. If this means redesigning your presentation, then so be it. If this means going out of your way to be polite, helpful and giving the best possible shopping experience to your customers, the so be it.
1.When Terry was offered the job of salesman, he .
A. was good at sales techniques
B. was too young to do it
C. was believed in by his boss
D. knew little about sales skills
2.The underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 suggests that .
A. Terry couldn’t trade with Eskimos
B. Terry loved his Granny more
C. Terry was too honest to do the job
D. Terry was afraid to compete
3.What made the young lad succeed in selling the window to the old woman?
A. Being honest and childish.
B. First impression of good personality.
C. High quality and expensive window.
D. Strange ways of sales.
4.The passage is most likely written to .
A. new salesmen
B. general readers
C. window makers
D. new graduates
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
It’s hard to predict the weather in the near future. It’s even more difficult to know what the climate of the coming season is like. Now you know the winter of 2011/12 was not warm but a freezing one/ many people in the Northern Hemisphere died of cold. but a Native American tribe was fortunate enough to survive the terrible winter because of what was foretold by a weatherman.
One day in early September o 2011 the chief of the Native American tribe was asked by his tribal elders if the winter was going to be cold or mild. The chief asked his medicine man, but the man also had lost touch with the reading signs from the natural world around the Great Lakes.
In truth, neither of them had idea about how to predict the coming winter. However, the chief decided to take a modern approach, and rang the National Weather Service in Gaylord Michigan.
“Yes, it is going to be a cold winter,” the weatherman told the chief. Consequently, the chief went back to his tribe and told his tribe people to collect plenty of firewood.
A fortnight later the chief called the National Weather Service and asked for an update. “Are you still forecasting a cold winter?” he asked.
“Yes, very cold,” the weatherman told him.
As a result of this brief conversation the chief went back to the tribe people to collect every bit of wood they could find.
A month later the chief called the National Weather Service once more and asked about the coming winter. “Yes,” he was told, “it s going to be one of the coldest winters ever.”
The weatherman was right! And the Native American tribe went comfortably through the terrifying winter. The chief was thankful and curious. He rang the weatherman again and asked, “How can you be so sure about it tat it was freezing winter?”
The weatherman replied, “Because the Native American tribe of the Great Lakes are collecting wood like crazy.”
1.The underlined words in Paragraph2 must be a person who .
A. only has the ability to cure illness
B. can foretell what will happen in the future
C. governs he whole American tribes
D. is a weatherman for the Great Lakes
2.The chief decided to take a modern approach, so he turned to .
A. his medicine man
B. his tribe people
C. a telephone
D. a weatherman
3.The native tribe survived the terrible winter mainly because of .
A. lucky coincidence
B. good leadership
C. scientific prediction
D. modern technology
4.The chief rang the weatherman several times out of .
A. anger B. excitement
C. curiosity D. doubt
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Imagine you are standing on the 70th floor of the Empire State Building, staring at the cityscape. Suddenly a man pushes past you, opens the window and announces his intention to jump. You yell out, “Stop! Don’t do it!” the six-foot-five figure turns to you and menacingly (恐吓地) says, “Try to stop me and I’ll take you with me!”
“Umm… No problem, sir. have a good trip. any last words?”
“Let me tell you my troubles,” he says, “my wife left me, my kids won’t talk to me, I lost my job and my pet turtle died, so why should I go on living?”
Suddenly you have a flash of inspiration. “Sir, close your eyes for a minute and imagine that you are blind. No colors, no sights of children playing, no fields of flowers, no sunset. Now imagine that suddenly there’s a miracle. You open your eyes and your vision is restored! Are you going to jump? Or will you stick around for a week to enjoy the sights?”
“I’ll stay for a week.”
“But what happened to all the troubles?”
“I guess they’re not so bad. I can see!”
“Well, your eyesight is worth at least five million dollars. You’re a rich man!”
If you really appreciate your eyesight, the other pains are insignificant. But if you take it all for granted, then nothing in life will ever truly give you joy. Actually, there are misconceptions on the road to happiness.
misconception1: “Once I know the tools for being happy, then it will work like magic.”
Don’t expect the results to come automatically. It is possible to understand how to achieve happiness, yet not put it into practice. In fact, many people actually prefer to be comfortable and unhappy, rather than bear the discomfort of changing their habits. Just as learning any new skill requires effort, you have to be willing to invest serious effort to achieve real happiness.
Misconception 2: “if I become content and satisfied with what I have, I’ll lose my motivation to achieve more.”
Now ask someone who is depressed, “Let’s go fishing!” “I’m tired. Maybe tomorrow. And anyway, I might rain…” in reality, happy people are energetic and ambitious. There’s never enough time to do everything they want to do.
Misconception 3:
A beautiful Sunday afternoon, you’re in the park having a picnic with friends. Suddenly one person complains: “who forgot the forks? It’s too hot for volleyball. I want to go home already.”
When our mood negatively affects others, we recognize we have duty to be happy and not spoil the fun. But what about when we’re at home with our family? Or when we go into the office on Monday morning? like an open pit in the middle of the road, a sourpuss(牢骚满腹的人) is a public danger. Being happy is part of being considerate to the people around us.
1.The story is placed at the beginning of the passage in order to .
A. tell a skill of persuasion
B. warn the danger of standing on a tall building
C. emphasize the importance of eyesight
D. introduce the theme of the passage
2.What can be inferred from the underlined sentences?
A. Everything has a price.
B. We should value what we have.
C. Every dog has its day.
D. Eyesight is more important.
3.What is right about happy？
A. Happy is a gift.
B. Happy is limited.
C. Happy is contagious (会传染的).
D. Happy is no more than a skill.
4.The best subtitle of Misconception 3 is .
A. If unhappy occurs at home, I needn’t pretend to be happy
B. If I can’t make others unhappy, I won’t be happy.
C. If someone is happy, then others around them are happy.
D. If I want to be depressed, that’s my own prerogative.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Buckingham Palace has a history that dates back over 500 years and has changed hands on numerous occasions, however, much of the building that remains standing today is from the original structure built in the early 1700's.
In the beginning Buckingham Palace was originally known as Buckingham House. However, in 1762 George III liked the house so much that he bought it for 28,000 and renamed it "The Queen's House". The reason for this was down to the fact that he bought the house to give to his wife Charlotte. Shortly after he did this, work soon began in order to remodel the house with the help of Sir William Chambers. This trend then continued with the accession of George IV in 1820 when he decided to reconstruct the house but he still used it for the same purpose that his father did.
One of the biggest physical changes to the house occurred several years later when the king had a change of mind. It was in 1826 that King George IV set about transforming the house into what it is known today, Buckingham Palace. He did this with the help of an architect known as John Nash.
The work that Nash carried out involved doubling the size of the main block through adding a new suite of rooms on the garden side facing the west. He then faced this with mellow Bath stone, which reflected the French neo-classical influence favored by George IV. Many of the rooms that Nash added still remain pretty much unchanged today.
The palace as it stands today acts as not only the London residence of Her Majesty the Queen but also the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household. It is in fact one of the few working royal palaces that remain in the world today. The state rooms are extensively used by the Queen as well as members of the royal family as a way of receiving and entertaining guests on state, ceremonial and official occasions.
1.George IV reconstructed Buckingham House probably to .
A. please his own wife
B. satisfy his son
C. sell at a good price
D. honor his old father
2.One of the biggest changes to Buckingham Palace took place in .
A. 1762 B. 1820 C. 1826 D. 1829
3.The last paragraph mainly tells us
A. how important Buckingham Palace is today
B. what Buckingham Palace is like today
C. some information of royal palaces in the world
D. how Buckingham Palace is used today
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。
Asking yourself the following questions will help you make steps towards a more balanced life.
Do you possess too much? Drowning ourselves in too many material possessions can lead to stress. 1. .
Are you eating healthily? The types of foods we eat can greatly affect how we feel both physically and emotionally. Eating too much junk food can lead to bad mood.
What is important to you as an individual? Is it family, health, spirituality, work, etc.? Make sure that you are living with what matters most to you.
Are you maintaining healthy relationships? Is there a relationship in you life that needs a little extra care and attention? 2.
Are you working too hard? Taking time to recharge and spend time on activities that make you happy is so important.
3. A lack of motivation to accomplish certain things can throw you off balance or make you feel stressed out later on.
Are you spending too much? 4. Saving money is an excellent practice and you will more than likely be glad you did in case of an emergency.
Are you worrying about the future and dwelling on the past? learn to let go and only focus on what’s happening right now.
5. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in taking care of others that we forget to take care of ourselves. We all need a little “me time”. Set aside some time every day to just relax and do something that you enjoy, whether that is reading, meditating, watching TV, cooking, spending quality time with your loved ones, etc.
A. Use your head and you will find a way.
B. Do you need to right a wrong with someone?
C. Are you taking care of yourself?
D. Overspending can lead to stress.
E. Get clear on what you badly need and what you can get rid of.
F. Rearranging your schedule helps a lot.
G. Are you playing too hard?
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。
If you want to learn a new language, the very first thing to think about is why. Do you need it for a ___________ reason, such as your job or your studies? ___________ perhaps you are interested in the ___________, films or the music of a different country and you know how much it will help to have a___________ of the language.
Most people learn best using a variety of ___________ , but traditional classes are an ideal start for many people. They ___________ an environment where you can practice under the ___________ of someone who’s good at the language. We all lead ___________ lives and learning language takes ___________ . You will have more success if you study regularly, so try to develop a ___________ . It doesn’t matter if you haven’t got long. Becoming ___________in a language will take years, but learning to get by takes a lot less.
Many people start learning a language and soon given up. “I’m too ___________ ,” they say. Yes, children do learn languages more ___________ than adults, but research has shown that you can learn a language at any ___________ . And learning is good for the health of your brain, too. I’ve also heard people ___________ about the mistakes they make when___________ . Well, relax and laugh about your ___________ and you’re much less likely to make them again.
Learning a new language is never ___________ . But with some work and devotion, you’ll make progress. And you’ll be ___________ by the positive reaction of some people when you say just a few words in ___________ won language. Good luck!
1.A. technical B. political C. practical D. physical
2.A. After B. So C. Though D. Or
3.A. literature B. transport C. agriculture D. medicine
4.A. view B. knowledge C. form D. database
5.A. paintings B. regulations C. methods D. computers
6.A. protect B. change C. respect D. provide
7.A. control B. command C. guidance D. pressure
8.A. busy B. happy C. simple D. normal
9.A. courage B. time C. energy D. place
10.A. theory B. business C. routine D. project
11.A. bored B. fluent C. interested D. devoted
12.A. old B. nervous C. weak D. tired
13.A. closely B. quickly C. privately D. quietly
14.A. age B. speed C. distance D. school
15.A. worry B. hesitate C. think D. quarrel
16.A. singing B. working C. bargaining D. learning
17.A. progress B. mistakes C. cleverness D. clumsiness
18.A. tiresome B. hard C. interesting D. easy
19.A. blamed B. amazed C. interrupted D. informed
20.A. their B. his C. our D. your
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。
At least 132 people were killed and 352 wounded in the 1. (dead) attacks, according to AFP. Out of the 352 2. (injure), 99 3. (say) to be in precarious condition.
Paris city hall official said gunmen systematically slaughtered nearly 100 people 4. (attend) a rock concert 5. the Bataclan music hall. Anti-terrorist commandos eventually launched an assault on the building, killed the gunmen and rescued dozens of shocked 6. (survive).
Some 40 7. people were killed in up to five other 8. (attack) in the Paris region, the city hall official said, including an apparent double suicide bombing outside the national stadium 9. Hollande and the German Foreign Minister were watching a friendly soccer international.
Paris Public Prosecutor Francois Molins said the overall death toll 10. (be) at least 127. Five assailants had been "neutralised".
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。作文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏子符号（∧）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。
Facebook managed to put its vast treasure trove(宝藏) of user data to good use before Friday’s tragic terror attacks in Paris. The social network customized its safety check feature let users know whether their friends and loved ones in Paris are safe.
Users in the area are being alerted(通知) by Facebook’s mobile apps, asked them whether they are safe, and offering to check on any of their friends. The app has also been sending out alerts to anyone who has friends in Paris, and Facebook’s website lets anyone check on the status and whereabouts(去向) of their friends as well as.
Most people have seen Facebook’s safety check for the first time today, and the company actually lanched it in respond to the Nepal earthquake earlier this year. At the time, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote: “When disasters happen, people need to know their loved ones are safe. It’s moments like this when being able to connect really matters.”
Facebook wasn’t the only tech company to direct reach out to its users in Paris after the terror attacks. AirBnB（空中食宿） sent its customers in Paris a email advising them staying in place and follow the directions from local authorities, and Uber（优步） used its app to advise users “not to move if absolutely necessary.”
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
书面表达
假定你是高三学生李夏， 最近你听说你市英语俱乐部即将开张， 且将有2名在本市工作的外交参加。请你用英语给俱乐部负责人写一封信，了解一下该俱乐部的相关信息， 以便加入。要点如下：
1. 介绍自己学习英语的情况；
2. 咨询相关事宜（如入会条件、会费以及活动等）；
3. 表达自己想加入的愿望。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 结语已为你写好。
难度: 简单查看答案及解析