Listening to music an help me focus better. Since I discovered it two years ago, I’ve used music to get through boring work or to focus creatively. I’ve found that it can make even the dullest jobs enjoyable and help clear mental blocks to creativity.
I first noticed the good effects of music while playing video games. It was a few days before Christmas in 2012 and I was playing online video games. My parents had just given me a new MP3, so I decided to listen to music through the headphones while I played. After a few minutes I noticed a great change in my style of play. I was playing more naturally. The music relaxed me, and, to a certain extent, distracted me from the game, allowing my subconscious（潜意识的）talent to come through. The music also helped me block out the outside world. With those headphones on I was like a machine, moving from one task to the next without unnecessary thoughts or actions.
Music can also have a great effect on mood, if I’m in a bad mood at work, I’ll listen to some of Bob Marley’s and get down to business. It always takes my mind off what I’m doing and makes me a happier person. The same is true of classic rock. One summer, I did a boring job collecting bottle openers by hand. Without a radio playing classic rock in the background, I would have hated life.
Listening to music with relaxing rhythms and a positive message helps you forget your work and think happy thoughts. But the results you see will depend heavily on your personal tastes. Experiment with the types of music you listen to during certain tasks. By trial and error you’ll finally discover your best choice. I’m always looking for new concentration aids, so I’d love to know what type of music works best for me.
1.We can infer that the passage was written in .
A. 2010 B. 2012 C. 2013 D. 2014
2.The author first discovered the effects of music .
A. from his parents B. by chance
C. at work D. when he was a child
3.The author mentions the experience of collecting bottle openers in Paragraph 3 to .
A. tell us that life is dull
B. prove that music affects mood
C. tell us how to seek happiness
D. tell us bad mood can affect work
4.In order to get the greatest effect of music, you are advised to .
A. listen to some of Bob Marley’s
B. only choose relaxing music
C. test all kinds of music
D. listen to classic rock
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Enjoy your reading time! We provide a collection of books for you.
Biography
When Salinger learned that a car park was to be built on the land, the middle---aged writer was shocked and quickly bought the neighboring area to protect it. The towns-people never forgot the rescue and came to help their most famous neighbor.
J.D. Salinger: A life by Kenneth Slawenski published by Random House Price: $27
Mystery
“ You’re a smart boy. Benny’s death was no accident, and you’re the only one who saw it happen. Do you think the murderer should get away with it?” The boy was staring stubbornly at his lap again. A thought suddenly hit Annika, “ You recognized the man in the car, didn’t you?” The boy hesitated, twisting his fingers, “ Maybe,” he said quietly.
Red Wolf by Liza Marklund Published by Atria Books Price: $25.99
Short stories
She wants to say to him what she has learned, none of it in class. Some women are born stupid, and some women are too smart for their own good. Some women are born to give, and some women only know how to take. Some women learn who they want to be from their mothers, some who they don’t want to be. Some mothers suffer, so their daughters won’t. Some mothers love, so their daughters won’t.
You Are Free by Danzy Senna published by Riverhead Books Price: $14.99
Humor
Do your kids like to have fun? Come to Fun Times! Do you like to watch your kids having fun? Bring them to Fun Times! Fun Time’s “amusement cycling” is the most fun you can have in the Unite States right now. why spend thousands of dollars flying to Disney World when you can spend less than half to that within a day’s drive in most cities?
Happy And Other Bad Thoughts by Larry Doyle published by Ecco Price: $15
1.If you want to knowsomething about Salinger, you can buy the book published by .
A. Ecco B. Atria Books
C. Random House D. Riverhead Books
2.What can be learned from the book Red Wolf?
A. Annika carried out the crime.
B. Benny died of an accident.
C. The murderer got away with the crime.
D. The boy helped arrest the murderer.
3.Who wrote short stories about women?
A. Danzy Senna B. Liza Marklund.
C. Kenneth Slawenski. D. Larry Doyle
4.In which column（专栏）of a newspaper could we find this passage?
A. Politics. B. Entertainment.
C. Sports. D. Science
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Doing well in high school prepare students for life in college and beyond, so achieving student success is important. High school students learn valuable information form class lectures and homework, and by asking for help when it is needed. Being prepared for tests and engaging in school activities can help a student to achieve success in high school.
Complete any homework you are assigned on time. Then, if you need help understanding a concept you will have plenty of time to get help.
Create a study area in your home. This can be a quiet bench outside or a seating area in your room. If you like to listen to music while studying, listen to classical or reading music. Be sure to have plenty of lighting in the area to read your textbook or notes.
Keep a schedule. If you have extra-curricular activities like sports or school meetings, make sure to schedule your homework and study time around them. Keeping a schedule will allow you to get better grades while having fun in high school.
Eat breakfast. Having breakfast each morning before school will give you energy and brain function to pay better attention in class. Eat snacks during study sessions to keep alert（警惕的） and focused on your work.
Create a study group to help fellow high school students and get help if you need it. Studying with others will help reinforce concepts and information, and if you need help there will always be someone there to help you before you get behind in your studies.
Set up after-school hours with your teacher if you need extra tutoring（家教）. Visiting a teacher for one-on-one time before a test will help you nail down those last few concepts you need help with.
1.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Doing well in high school prepares students for life in college only.
B. Completing most of the homework on time will help a student to succeed.
C. The students shouldn’t listen to any music to create a quiet study area.
D. The study area should be bright enough for the students to read the textbook.
2.What will make it possible for the high school students to get better grades while having fun?
A. Creating a study area in their home.
B. Keeping a schedule and following it.
C. Eating breakfast every morning before school.
D. Finding a tutor to get one-on-one instruction.
3. How can the students help themselves before they fall behind in their studies?
A. Eat snacks during the study time to keep alert.
B. Create a study group to get help if you need it.
C. Make sure to have plenty of lighting in the study area.
D. Be prepared for the exam and engage in the school activity.
4.What is the best title of the passage?
A. How to Achieve Student Success in High School.
B. How to Make Full Preparations for the Exam.
C. Ways to Get Better Grades than Other Students.
D. Ways to Improve the Learning Efficiency.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
There are many ways to find a job. It can be as easy as walking into a neighborhood store to look at its announcement board. Local stores often have areas where people can put small signs telling what kind of service they need or can provide. Such services include caring for children or cleaning houses.
Or, job searchers can look in the newspaper. Local newspapers have employment announcements placed by companies seeking workers.
Another popular tool for finding jobs is the Internet. For example, people in four hundred and fifty cities around the world can use the Craigslist Web site to buy objects, meet people or find a job. Craigslist says that it receives two million new job listings each month.
Another useful way to find a job is through a college or university. For example, students at the University of Texas in Austin can go to the Career Exploration Center to get help in finding a job. Of course, looking for a job requires knowing what kind of work you want to do. For example, there is a book called “What Color is Your Parachute (降落伞)?” by Richard Bolles. This book has been helping people choose a career (职业) since it was first published in nineteen seventy.
Some experts also help people find jobs. Susan W. Miller owns a company called California Career Services in Los Angeles. She says her company helps people find jobs by first helping them understand their strengths, goals and interests. Then she provides them with methods and resources to help them find the right job.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A. Finding a job.
B. College students’ part-time jobs.
C. Craigslist Web site.
D. The relation between study and work.
2. By logging on the Craigslist Web site, you can ______.
A. sell your old things
B. do some shopping online
C. create your own announcement board
D. get useful information about 450 cities
3. How many ways of finding a job are mentioned in the passage?
A. Three. B. Four. C. Five. D. Six.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
| A. A general sleep rule. B. The importance of sleep. C. A funny sleeping example. D. Different levels of sleep. E. The time we need for sleep. F. Different states of sleep. |
1.
Sleep, as we know, is important to us because it helps restore tired organs and tissues in our body. But how much sleep do we actually need?
2.
For most of us, eight hours seems to be about the right amount. Yet we know that there are a great many people who get along perfectly with less sleep and some who may even need more. A great deal depends on the way we live. But a good general rule to follow is to sleep as long as we have to in order to feel happy and be able to work at our best when we are awake.
3.
There are actually different levels of sleep. There is a deep sleep and a shallow sleep. In a shallow sleep our body does not get the same kind of rest as it gets in a deep sleep, so that after eight hours of a shallow sleep we may still feel tired. But a short deep sleep can be very restful.
4.
Alexander the Great was able to get a deep sleep whenever he needed it. Once, during the night before an important battle, he remained awake longer than anyone else. Then he wrapped himself in a cloak and lay down on the earth. He slept so deeply that his generals had to wake him three times to give command to attack!
5.
Normally when we go to sleep, our “ sleep center” blocks off nerves so that both our brain and our body go to sleep. One prevents us form wanting to do anything and the other makes our internal organs and limbs go to sleep. But someone will fall asleep (brain sleep) and keep on marching, because his body is not asleep!
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
完形填空
The story happened on a not heavy rainy day.
After class, I took a few bottles to go and ________ some water from the water room. Oh！There were so many people! I had to wait ________the rain. My hair didn’t get wet because I wore a hat, but my clothes ________ .
When at last it was my ________ ,I filled the bottles as quickly as possible. I beganmaking my way back when I saw a boy ________ towards me. He ________ two umbrellas
in his hand. He shouted hello and as he came ________ ,I recognized that it was XiaoBai.
He ________ my classmate for nearly three years but we never ________ more than ten sentences. He was silent but I like talking. We were quite ________ people and had nothing in common. I didn’t ________ him and even didn’t want to see him.
“Hey! What’s wrong?” His words ________ me out of my thought. “I saw you ________ in therain so I brought you this umbrella. But it seems a little ________ ,your clothes are already wet.”
On hearing this, I was so ________ that I couldn’t say a single word.
“Don’t just stand there. Let’s go!” He said and held the umbrella for me. We walked towards ________ and this time, we talk ________ .
“I know you don’t like me, but I want to ________ with you.” he said, “you may think I am silent, but it is because I can’t find the ________ to say.”
The rain finally stopped and we saw a rainbow in the blue sky. I said to myself, “It is wrong to ________someone only by his appearance.
1.A. collect B. drink C. carry D. hold
2.A. under B. in C. at D. on
3.A. did B. get C. was D. wet
4.A. wish B. duty C. job D. turn
5.A. come B. came C. coming D. comes
6.A. had held B. has held C. was holding D. holds
7.A. near B. nearly C. nearer D. nearest
8.A. has been B. had been C. is D. would be
9.A. shared B. talked C. spoke D. communicate
10.A. the same B. familiar C. strange D. different
11.A. hate B. ignore C. like D. get along
12.A. brought B. make C. get D. surprised
13.A. stood B. stand C. standing D. are standing
14.A. early B. frequent C. actually D. late
15.A. moving B. move C. moved D. moves
16.A. the classroom B. the park C. the playground. D. the bedroom
17.A. nothing B. little C. a lot D. something
18.A. make friends B. shake a hand C. make a friend D. have words
19.A. times B. right words C. silent place. D. umbrella
20.A. understand B. see C. judge D. Decide
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或括号内单词的正确形式
After graduating from college, Tom and Bob joined a company together. Both worked very hard. Several years later, the boss promoted Bob to manager, but Tom remained as 1. ordinary worker. Tom couldn’t take it. He handed his resignation to the boss, complaining that the boss didn’t value hard-working workers, but only promoted those 2. (please) guys.
The boss knew Tom worked very hard these years. So he said, “ Thank you, 3. I have a request. I hope you’ll do one more thing for our company 4. you leave. Perhaps you’ll change your mind.”
Tom agreed. The boss asked him to go and find anyone selling watermelon in the market. Tom went and return soon, and said he had found 5. . The boss asked how much per kg? Tom 6. (shake) his head, went back to the market and returned
7. (inform) the boss $1.2 per kg.
The boss told Tom to wait a second. He called Bob to come to his office and asked Bob to do the same. Bob went, returned and said 8. (gentle), “ Boss, only one person is selling watermelon. $1.2 per kg, and $10 9. 10 kg. he has 320 melons in all, of 10 10. are on the table. Fresh and red, each weighs about 2 kg.
Tow was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Bob. He decided to stay to learn from Bob.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
单词拼写
1.She （点头）when she passed me in the street.
2.I can’t just （想象）him saying that!
3.He （犹豫不决）before he answered because he didn’t know what to say.
4.If you （克服）a problem or a feeling, you successfully deal with it and control it.
5.There are tea leaves in the （底部）of my cup.
6.Light music can get you （放松）after a whole day of work.
7.I made an （道歉）to my host and left early.
8.He was （紧张）before the plane trip.
9.In which （方向）are you going, north or south?
10.He’s a （合伙人）in a Chicago law firm.
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。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删减或修改。
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：在错的词下画一横线，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）不记分。
When I was a child, I hoped to live in the city. I think I would be happy there. Now I am living in a city, but I miss my home in countryside. There the air is clean or the mountains are green. Unfortunately, on the development of industrialization, the environment has been polluted. Lots of studies have been shown that global warming has already become a very seriously problem. The airs we breathed in is getting dirtier and dirtier. Much rare animals are dying out. We must found ways to protect your environment. If we fail t do so, we’ll live to regret it.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
书面表达
请根据下列内容，以“How Wang Fang and I Became Good Friends”为题，用英语写一篇短文。
1.王芳和我成为好朋友已经三年了，她性格活泼，心地善良，乐于助人，学习也非常好。
2.我永远忘不了第一次见面时的情景。
3.她对我很好，但在学习上对我很严格。
4.尽管我们有时吵架，但不久就和解了。她永远是我的好朋友。
注意：1.不要逐字翻译，可适当发挥。
2. 词数：120左右
难度: 中等查看答案及解析