Taking Chances
My mother recently read me a speech she had made at a local high school， hoping to ____ my endless quest for answers to everything．
Ever since I was very young ， __________of making mistakes ， I've asked countless times，"What should I do？" I don't remember clearly when I__________ only to do things the "right" way，and made "doing it the right way" my motto．
However， sometime during my high school years， I __________ ． Maybe it was when I decided to try for the lead in "Beauty and the Beast．" Never mind that I would have to memorize _______and rehearse movements ， I would take the chance that I might ___________． On the day of tryouts， my heart was pounding；my hands were _________badly when I got up to sing．But when I opened my mouth ， the sound was loud and __________． I reached for the high notes that sometimes were _________ my reach． I was trying to do my best even though I might fail．_______ I didn't!
The audition （试镜） was definitely an ___________part of the process ． I realized that if I wanted to live life to the fullest， I had to take_________．
Now ， I do take these chances ， with baby steps ， every day ； voicing my opinions in class discussions or debates，_________ for a high note in church choir， riding my horse over a three ﹣foot jump．
Three years ago， I broke my back when I fell from my horse．The __________meant I couldn't try out for basketball， which I loved． And， the day I __________ out for track was the first day my doctor allowed me to do any physical activity at all． The coach didn't take me， so I started running with my mom ． No stop ﹣watches ． No cheering crowds ． I didn't _________the track team， but I didn't fail， either．
I have finally learned to ___________myself ， like taking a tough science course ． And I have come to realize that even though my parents， friends and teachers don't always have the__________ to "What should I do？"， they will be there to _________me when I try．
"Life is learning to deal with Plan B，" my mother __________ in her speech． But I now know that the Plan A's I make for my life will become easier and easier with every chance I take．
1.A.seek B.satisfy C.excite D.tolerate
2.A.afraid B.aware C.certain D.free
3.A.afforded B.agreed C.promised D.decided
4.A.survived B.learned C.changed D.quitted
5.A.lines B.texts C.lessons D.roles
6.A.stay B.leave C.fail D.join
7.A.hurting B.shaking C.suffering D.struggling
8.A.powerful B.gentle C.innocent D.distant
9.A.against B.within C.outside D.beyond
10.A.Otherwise B.Thus C.But D.Therefore
11.A.ordinary B.independent C.additional D.important
12.A.chances B.turns C.measures D.sides
13.A.looking B.waiting C.hoping D.reaching
14.A.event B.injury C.disease D.experience
15.A.worked B.tried C.looked D.held
16.A.visit B.admire C.make D.take
17.A.help B.enjoy C.push D.save
18.A.answer B.approach C.response D.access
19.A.teach B.watch C.trust D.support
20.A.planned B.stated C.expected D.discussed
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I've loved my mother's desk since I was just tall enough to sit above the top of it. Mother sat writing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be a most wonderful thing in the world.
Years later, during her final illness, Mother kept different things for my sister and brother. "But the desk," she said again, "is for Elizabeth."
I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed in action. But as a young girl. I wanted to have heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.
They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was "too emotional (易动感情的)". But she lived "on the surface (表面)".
As years passed and I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me.
My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and, finally, peace ---- it seemed that nothing happened. I couldn't be sure that the letter had even got to Mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.
But the present of her desk told me, as she'd never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside ---- a photo of my father and a one-paper letter, folded and refolded many times. It was my letter.
"In any way you choose, Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words."
1.The passage shows that_________.
A.Mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to her daughter
B.Mother was too serious about her daughter in words
C.Mother wrote to her daughter in careful words
D.Mother wrote to her daughter in careless words
2.The underlined word "gulf" in the passage means_______.
A.deep understanding between the old and the young
B.different ideas between mother and daughter
C.free talks between mother and daughter
D.part of the sea going far in land
3.What did Mother do with her daughter's letter asking for forgiveness?
A.She had never received the letter.
B.For years, she often talked about the letter.
C.She didn't forgive her daughter at all in all her life.
D.She read the letter again and again till she died.
4.What's best title of the passage?
A.My letter to Mother B.Mother and children
C.My Mother's Desk D.Talks between Mother and me
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Kites have been around for a long time. The Chinese invented kites over 2000 years ago. A determined man named Mo Zi had an idea as he watched hawks(鹰) fly. He spent three years making a wooden hawk “kite”. It broke after one flight! Mo Zi and his Chinese friends did not give up. Soon they perfected the art of creating kites.
Kites became part of many Chinese festivals. Pictures of kites were also on vases and in paintings. But kites were meant to fly in places other than China! Marco Polo visited China in the 13th century and brought kites back to Europe with him. Europeans loved them, and the art of kiting “took off”!
Many kites have stories behind them. One Chinese novel, called Journey to the West, was written around 1400 AD. In the story, a priest(僧侣) traveled with three students. One student was a monkey. The second student was a man with pig ears. The third student was a former river monster. These characters often appear on Chinese kites. Another splendid(壮观的) Chinese kite is the dragon kite. A dragon kite is made of many round discs strung together. Often the dragon is bright red, with fat horns and white teeth. The dragon is the king of beasts in Chinese myths. It represents goodness, even though it looks scary. Two kinds of kites have pictures of birds on them. One kite is called the phoenix(凤凰) bird kite. The phoenix bird symbolizes peace. Another kite shows the redheaded crane(鹤).The crane represents happiness, good fortune, and a long life.
Kites come in all shapes and sizes. Flat or bowed kites have a simple shape, such as a diamond or a rectangle(长方形). Delta(三角形) kites are triangular. Rokkaku kites are six-sided and often bear a striking image. Sometimes these kites “fight” each other until one kite drops from the sky. The other kite then wins the “battle”.
1.Who introduced Chinese kites to Europe?
A.A foreigner from Europe. B.Three students in Journey to the West.
C.The priest in Journey to the West. D.A Chinese artist.
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.The novel Journey to the West mainly talks about the art of kiting.
B.The characters in the novel Journey to the West are often painted on kites.
C.The dragon kite represents happiness, good fortune and a long life.
D.A phoenix bird is a main character in the novel Journey to the West.
3.Which statement expresses an opinion rather than a fact?
A.Kites became part of many Chinese festivals.
B.There are many different kinds of kites.
C.The dragon kite is the most splendid Chinese kite.
D.Kites were invented 2000 years ago.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
Sport is not only physically challenging , but it can also be mentally challenging . Criticism (批评) from coaches, parents, and other teammates, as well as pressure to win can create an excessive amount of anxiety or stress for young athletes . Stress can be physical, emotional, or psychological and research has suggested that it can lead to burnout. Burnout has been described as dropping or quitting of an activity that was at one time enjoyable .
The early years of development are critical years for learning about oneself .The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place. Young athletes can, for example, learn how to cooperate with others, make friends, and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should be aware ,at all times, that their feedback to youngsters can greatly affect their children. Youngsters may take parents’ and coaches’ criticisms to heart and find a flaw ( mistake ) in themselves.
Coaches and parents should also be careful that youth sport participation does not become work for children. The outcome of the game should not be more important than the process of learning the sport and other life lessons. In today’s youth sport setting , young athletes may be worrying more about who will win instead of enjoying themselves and the sport. Following a game , many parents and coaches focus on the outcome and find fault with youngsters’ performances. Positive reinforcement motivates and has a greater effect on learning than criticism. Again, criticism can create high levels of stress, which can lead to burnout .
1.What is the main idea of the first paragraph ?
A.Mental stress should be reduced . B.Sport should be made less competitive .
C.Stress should be made less. D.Sport can be mentally challenging .
2.According to the passage , young people like sport because .
A.it can help them learn more about society
B.it enables them to criticize themselves
C.it can provide them with valuable experiences
D.it teaches them how to set realistic goals for themselves
3.According to the passage , parents and coaches should .
A.enable children to enjoy sport B.help children to win every game
C.train children to deal with stress D.understand the meaning of sport
4.The author’s purpose in writing the passage is .
A.to teach young athletes how to avoid burnout
B.to persuade young children not to worry about criticism
C.to stress the importance of encouraging children
D.to discuss the skill of combining criticism with encouragement
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Are morning people born or made? In my case it was definitely made. In my early 20s, I rarely went to bed before midnight, and I would almost always get up late the next morning.
But after a while I couldn’t ignore the high relationship between success and rising early. On those rare occasions where I did get up early, I noticed that my productivity was almost always higher. So I set out to become a habitual early riser. But whenever my alarm went off, my first thought was always to stop that noise and go back to sleep. Eventually some sleep research showed me that I was using the wrong strategy.
The most common wrong strategy is this:You assume that if you’re going to get up earlier, you’d better go to bed earlier. It sounds very reasonable, but will usually fail.
There are two main schools (流派) of thought on sleep patterns. The first is that you should go to bed and get up at the same time every day. The second school says you should go to bed when you’re tired and get up when you naturally wake up. However, I have found both of them are wrong if you care about productivity. If you sleep at set hours, you’ll sometimes go to bed when you aren’t sleepy enough. You’re wasting time lying in bed awake and not being asleep.
If your sleep is based on what your body tells you, you’ll probably be sleeping more than you need. Also, your mornings may be less predictable if you’re getting up at different times.
The solution for me has been to combine both methods. I go to bed when I’m sleepy and get up with an alarm clock at a fixed time. So I always get up at the same time (in my case 5 am), but I go to bed at different times every night — sometimes at 9:30pm, and other times at midnight. Most of the time I go to bed between 10-11 pm.
However, going to bed only when I’m sleepy, and getting up at a fixed time every morning is my way. If you want to become an early riser, you can try your own.
1.According to the passage, the underlined phrase refers to ________.
A.people who stay up until the next morning
B.people who feel sleepy in the morning
C.people who get up early in the morning
D.people whose productivity is the highest in the morning
2.Why did the author want to become a habitual early riser?
A.Because he/she wanted to form the habit of going to bed early and getting up early.
B.Because he/she wanted to see which of the two main schools of thought on sleep patterns was right.
C.Because he/she had found that his / her productivity was higher when he / she got up early.
D.Because he/she was told the high relationship between success and rising early.
3.The author experienced all the following EXCEPT ________.
A.asking scholars for advice on sleeping habits B.getting up early occasionally
C.pressing off the alarm to go on sleeping D.going to bed after midnight
4.The passage is mainly about ________.
A.how to have good sleep
B.how to become an early riser
C.wrong strategies for getting up early
D.main schools of thought on sleep patterns
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The Dangers of Secondhand Smoke
Most people know that cigarette smoking is harmful to their health. Scientific research shows that it causes many kinds of diseases. 1. However, Edward Gilson has lung cancer, and he has never smoked cigarettes. He lives with his wife，Evelyn，who has smoked about a pack of cigarettes a day throughout their marriage. The Gilsons have been married for 35 years.
2. However, doctors believe that secondhand smoke may cause lung cancer in people who do not smoke because nonsmokers often breathe in the smoke from other people’s cigarettes. The US This smoke is called secondhand smoke.
Environmental Protection Agency reports that about 53，000 people die in the United States each year as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke.
The smoke that comes from a lit cigarette contains many different poisonous chemicals. In the past, scientists did not think that these chemicals could harm a nonsmoker’s health. 3. They discovered that even nonsmokers had unhealthy amounts of these toxic (有毒的) chemicals in their bodies. 4. For example，we cannot avoid secondhand smoke in restaurants，hotels and other public places. Even though many public places have nonsmoking areas，smoke flows in from the areas where smoking is permitted. It is even harder for children to avoid secondhand smoke. In the United States，nine million children under the age of five live in homes with at least one smoker.
Research shows that children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are sick more often than children who live in homes where no one smokes and that the children of smokers are more than twice as likely to develop lung cancer when they are adults as the children of nonsmokers. The risk is even higher for children who live in homes where both parents smoke.
5. As a result，they have passed laws which prohibit(禁止) people from smoking in many public places.
A.Recently, though, scientists changed their opinion after they studied a large group of nonsmokers.
B.As a matter of fact, almost all of us breathe tobacco smoke at times, whether we realize it or not.
C.In fact, many people who smoke get lung cancer.
D.However, secondhand smoke is dangerous to all people, old or young.
E.People are becoming very aware of the dangers of secondhand smoke.
F.No one knows for sure why Mr. Gilson has lung cancer.
G.Many people, including doctors, parents, teachers, and others, are concerned about the health risks of cigarette smoking.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
单词拼写
1.His wonderful performance helped him e_________(赢得，博得) his place on the team.
2.At the New Year party, we usually d______________(装饰，布置) our classroom with beautiful paper cuts and colorful lights.
3.It’s our t____________(传统) to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival by having a family dinner and eating moon cakes.
4.I was on my best b_______________(行为，举止) as we were attending the English Singing Competition.
5.Whether you can win the m____________(奖牌) is not important. What matters most is the experience you may gain.
6.Running will help you get fit and prevent d______________(疾病).
7.Any exercise is better than none, but long-distance running in particular has a lot of b__________(益处，好处).
8.If you want to take part in this Fun Run, you need to fill in an a_____________(申请) form first.
9.The music box given by Granny always r____________(使某人想起) me of the last Christmas we spent together.
10.A____________(观众) are asked to turn off the phones or put them on silence while watching the match.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
句子翻译
1.跑前热身和跑后放松是很重要的，这样你就不会受伤。
2.人们相信将“福”字倒着贴，福就会到来。
3.离开的想法曾在脑中闪过，但是他很快放弃了这个念头，并找到了应对挑战的办法。
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
假如你是红星中学高一年级李华，你的笔友Peter对中国传统节日感兴趣，你给他发一个email, 介绍中国春节，内容如下：
1. 时间, 和谁一起庆祝, 意义
2. 节前的准备活动：打扫卫生，贴福字、春联（spring couplets），装饰......
3. 节日期间活动：放鞭炮、烟花，包饺子，吃年夜饭（family reunion dinner）……
4. 加一个合适的结尾，体现交际性
5. 内容不少于60词
注意：必须包括以上内容，可以适当增加细节。
开头如下：必须抄写
Dear Peter,
How are you getting on? Knowing that you are interested in Chinese traditional festivals, I am writing to give you a brief account of the Spring Festival.
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析