Grandma celebrated her fifty-third birthday just weeks before grandpa died of cancer in 1965. Although his passing was very difficult for her, I think their shared struggle to make his life longer taught grandma that good health was not to be taken for granted, and she made up her mind to live the rest of her own life as fully and as long as she could. One day, when she announced to attend lessons at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Portland, Oregon, where she lived, we rolled our eyes in embarrassment and helplessly wished she would just stay home and bake cookies as normal grandmothers did. Many years filled with countless dance lessons passed before we learned to appreciate the wonder of having a dancing grandma.
I suppose grandma's primary motivation for wanting to learn to dance was social. She had been a shy girl, always very tall and heavy, and had married into grandpa's quiet lifestyle before developing any elegance or confidence in her personal appearance. Dancing, on the other hand, filled her life with flash lights, wonderful parties, beautiful dresses, handsome young dance instructors, and the challenge of learning. Although the weekly dance lessons did not change her ample, two-hundred-pound figure, grandma surprised everyone with energetic performances on the dance floor, which soon gave her as much elegance and confidence as any Miss American competitor.
Having taken weekly dance lessons for years, my grandma learned various dances easily and was soon participating in dancing matches all over the Northwest. When I was fourteen, grandma proudly invited me to watch her compete in one of these matches to be held in the grand ballroom of the Red Lion Inn. My attitude was still unenthusiastic at that point, but to make her happy, my mother and I attended the match. As if to prove me wrong, grandma made a wonderful showing in every event she entered. I thought she was truly the queen of the ball during the dance, and my thoughts were shared by the judges a short time later when she was awarded a gold cup for her outstanding performance.
1.What did grandma learn from grandpa's death?
A. Good health was not there for everyone.
B. She should take dance lessons.
C. She had to struggle to live a better life.
D. She should wear beautiful dresses.
2.Normal grandmas usually ________ in the author's point of view?
A. took dance lessons
B. did some exercises at home
C. took care of grandchildren at home
D. did some housework at home
3.The author felt ______ when he was invited to watch grandma's match.
A. happy B. proud
C. excited D. uninterested
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Roughly half of college students will have some degree of depression at some point during their time in school. Even more startling, 6.2 percent of college students surveyed in 2012 considered suicide and 1.3 percent attempted it, according to an American College Health Association study released this spring. If you’re feeling depressed on campus, you may find the following tips helpful.
Exercise: Physical activity releases endorphins – chemicals that produce an overall positive feeling within the body, which fight depression naturally. Mental health experts claim that exercise is a solution to those feeling mild or moderate depression. However, for those severely depressed, simply doing sports is not enough.
Use school counseling services: Campuses don’t employ mental health experts simply to throw thousands of dollars down the drain. Their job is to help students, so experts recommend you use them. Most students, however, are hesitant to take a trip to their college’s counseling center, fearing being laughed at by peers. As a result, some schools like Texas Christian University, are testing students for mental health problems when they get sick and visit the campus health clinic.
Take advantage of technology: Staying in touch with family members and friends from childhood and high school has become easier than ever with the coming of Facebook and video chat services like Skype. While mental health experts insist that it’s important to make friends in your new environment and be involved in the college community, it’s also significant to keep in touch with the people you knew before college.
Go to sleep: Following a fairly regular sleep pattern can defend you against depression. In college, many students’ sleep patterns are irregular thanks to late-night studying and partying, which is harmful to their mental health. Research strongly suggests that sleep is the key to learning and memory formation.
1.According to the passage, physical activity __________ .
A. is regarded as the best way to fight depression
B. contributes to the release of endorphins
C. can’t help the seriously depressed students
D. improve people’s ability to learn and memorize
2.It can be inferred from the 3rd paragraph that __________ .
A. employing mental health experts on campus is a waste of money
B. students with mental health problems can’t get on well with others
C. going to college’s counseling center for help requires a lot of courage
D. sick students in Texas Christian University must take psychological tests
3.Taking advantage of technology is encouraged because it ____
A.enables students to get involved in college life
B.helps students stay in contact with others
C.offers students a way to make new friends
D.provides a way to avoid getting bored
4.which of the following can NOT help one reduce depression?
A.Taking exercise regularly every week
B.Chatting with old friends with Skype
C.Turning to mental health experts for advice
D.Holding parties deep into the night to relax
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Shyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are concerned with their own appearance and actions too much. Negative thoughts are constantly occurring in their minds: What kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? Am I wearing unattractive clothes?
It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must affect people unfavorably. A person's self-concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves and the way a person behaves affects other people's reactions. In general, the way people think about themselves has a deep effect on all areas of their lives.
Shy people, who have low respect, are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need faith that they are doing "the right thing". Shy people are very sensitive to criticism. It makes them feel inferior（自卑）.They also find it difficult to be pleased by praises because they believe they are unworthy of praise. A shy person may respond to a praise with a statement like this one: "You're just saying that to make me feel good, I know it's not true.” It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is harmful.
Can shyness be completely got rid of, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with determination since shyness goes hand in hand with lack of self respect. It is important for people to accept their weakness as well as their strengths. Each one of us has his or her own characteristics. We are interested in our own personal ways. The better we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to live up to our chances for a rich and successful life.
1.The first paragraph is mainly about______.
A.the cause of shyness
B.the effect of shyness on people
C.the feelings of shy people
D.the questions in the minds of shy people
2.According to the writer, self-awareness is______.
A.harmful to people
B.a weak point of shy people
C.the cause of unhappiness
D.a good characteristic
3.What is the shy people's reaction to praise?
A.They are pleased by it.
B.They feel it is not true.
C.They are very sensitive to it.
D.They feel they are worthy of it.
4.We can learn from the passage that shyness can ______.
A.block our chances for a successful life
B.help us to live up to our full development
C.enable us to understand ourselves better
D.have nothing to do with lack of self respect
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Service Foods makes it easier for cooks to reduce mealtime complains. Service Foods is so confident that they can reduce complaints, in fact, that the company is offering a series of mealtime complaint-reduction tips.
According to a representative of Service Foods, complaints can occur when busy cooks serve substandard, low quality meats. As products sit in packaging in the meat case at the store, the meat can age out too much. The natural flavor disappears, and it can be replaced with an undesirable strange flavor. According to Service Foods, complaints from children are common when you serve substandard meats. Kids may not have the words to describe why they don't like the meats, but they're certainly willing to express their displeasure. By serving meats from Service Foods, complaints can be reduced. Service Foods meats are all natural and organic, meaning the meats have-no chemicals or water or colorings that could change the taste. And the meats are flash-frozen right after cutting, so they won't taste strange to your children.
If you're facing different types of complaints, Service Foods may still be able to help you. Some families have mealtime boredom. The same meals, served in the same way, week after week, can be incredibly boring and hard 'to look forward to. When it comes to these complaints, Service Foods has the answer right on the web. Just go to http: //www. servicefoods.com and you'll find a long list of recipes to try. Some of these recipes are made in demonstration format, so you can watch the video and get step-by-step instructions on how to prepare the meals. By following these recipes from Service Foods, complaints relating to boredom can certainly be reduced.
While Service Foods knows complaints at mealtime can never be totally eradicated, as picky kids will always be picky kids with concerns, the company is doing everything possible to deal with the problem and get cooks the help they need.
1.Service Foods can solve mealtime boredom by ______.
A.serving flash-frozen meat
B.expressing children's complaints
C.instructing different ways of cooking
D.supplying natural food without chemicals
2.The underlined word "eradicated" in the last paragraph can be replaced with ______.
A.covered B.removed
C.reduced D.accepted
3.From the passage we can learn that Service Foods can do the following EXCEPT ______.
A.cook food for picky kids
B.teach how to prepare meals
C.provide natural and organic meat
D.help reduce complaints about foods
4.What will the readers probably do after reading the passage?
A.Pay for Service Foods service.
B.Buy organic meat from now on.
C.Write recipes for Service Foods.
D.Answer complaints on the web.
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。
How Can I Fight Laziness?
Lazy people will never amount to anything in life. However, laziness can be defeated once a few changes have been made in your mind.
1. Many people lack sleep constantly, since they stay up too late and get up too early to prepare for work. These people have little motivation once they arrive home. Laziness works hand in hand with a lack of motivation and a tendency to put off things. By adjusting your sleep schedule to provide a few more hours of meaningful rest, you can fight laziness throughout the day.
Another way to fight laziness is to change your mind from passive to active. Some people treat their lives as if they were pushed from task to task. Others take a more proactive approach, viewing each task as a challenge they must overcome alone. 2.
Some people fight laziness by removing the temptations(诱惑) that surround them. A television in the living room may provide entertainment, but watching too much TV often contributes to laziness. 3. complete a few tasks and reward yourself with what you enjoy, such as a good dinner or a film. Laziness can also be a lasting problem at home. Couples and children may all have different energy levels, but laziness can be spread if not dealt with immediately. 4. Be the first to collect and wash dishes after a meal. Others in the home may eventually follow your example and perform their own task. It is difficult to practice laziness when you are surrounded by motivated people.
5. enough exercise and a balanced diet can help you to develop a healthy lifestyle, thus enabling you to have more energy and help lift your spirits.
A. To fight family laziness, set an example.
B. Knowing how to fight laziness is important.
C. One way to fight laziness is to get enough sleep.
D. Finally, taking exercise regularly can help you fight laziness.
E. With strong determination, you will be able to achieve your goal.
F. Laziness sets in when you no longer feel in charge of your own life.
G. Create a reward system for yourself, just as parents do for the children.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
(二)根据下列句子所给汉语意思完成句子(每空一词)。
1.I am sure that I can perfectly ________ ________ _________ _________ ___________ (达到你的期望). I will be grateful if you could give me a kind consideration.
2.After all, language learning setting are _________ _________ ___________ (非常重要).
3.The grand sight of Mount Huangshan is _________ ___________ (难以描述、难以形容)
4.The beach is _________ _________ ___________ (离……不远，只有几步路)
5.She _________ _________ ___________ ___________ (大饱眼福) the beauty of the valley.
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。
I was 14 years old. I was angry and rebellious, with regard for anything my parents had to say, if it had nothing to do with me. Like so many , I struggled to escape from anything that didn’t my picture of the world. A “ brilliant without need of guidance” kid, I rejected any obvious of love. In fact, I got angry at the of the word “love”.
One , after an extremely difficult day, I into m room, shut the door loudly and fell down onto my bed heavily. As I lay down in the privacy of my , my hands placed under my pillow. There was an envelope. I pulled it out and on the envelope it said, “To when you’re alone.”
I was alone, no one would know whether I read it or not. So I opened it. It said，“Mike，I know life is right now, I know you are frustrated and I know we don’t do everything right. I also know that I love you and nothing you do or say will ever change that. I am here for you if you ever need to talk. If you don’t, that’s also . Just know that no matter where you go or whatever you do in your life, I will always love you and be that you are my son. I’m here for you and I love you-that will never .love you Mom.”
Every night as I went to bed, I would put my hands under my , and I remember the I felt every time I got a letter. During my teen years, the letters were the calm assurance that I still could be loved my anger and rudeness. Just before I fell I became grateful that my mom knew what I, an angry teenager, needed.
1.A. little B. all C. full D. high
2.A. seldom B. sometimes C. currently D. particularly
3.A. families B. adults C. people D. teenagers
4.A. hang up B. lift up C. agree with D. deal with
5.A. attempt B. offer C. request D. advice
6.A. risk B. proposal C. mention D. point
7.A. night B. day C. morning D. afternoon
8.A. slipped B. stormed C. sank D. slid
9.A. bed B. floor C. closet D. chair
10.A. answer B. seal C. read D. tear
11.A. If B. When C. Though D. Since
12.A. serious B. awful C. amazing D. exciting
13.A. entirely B. gently C. heavily D. personally
14.A. impossible B. terrible C. right D. okay
15.A. nervous B. sorry C. proud D. sure
16.A. last B. change C. happened D. start
17.A. pillow B. book C. desk D. door
18.A. relaxation B. sadness C. relief D. thrill
19.A. in spite of B. instead of C. ahead of D. in need of
20.A. ill B. down C. silent D. asleep
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，用不多于1个单词的正确形式填空
As an old English saying goes, “honesty is the best policy.” It is more than an old cliché（陈词滥调）, but 1. good way to live your life.
First, honesty is the 2. (easy) choice that we can make. When people get caught in lies, it always costs them something. Many relationships are destroyed by lies.
Second, honesty gives us much 3. (free). Many people believe that being honest limits them in life, but that is not true. Sooner or later those dishonest people 4. (pay) a price for their acts; on the contrary, when we are honest, we are 5. (true) free.
If there were two people 6. (stand) before you, a person with a record of being honest and a person 67 is known to be dishonest, who would you be more likely 7. (believe) I’m sure most people would side with the honest person. 8. we live in the truth or we live in lies. Truth sets us free and lies leave us in nothing but more troubles. Honesty is a choice that we make each day. The choice is 9. (you). What will you choose
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
第一节 基础知识测试(共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分)
(一)根据下列句子所给汉语意思，写出空缺处单词或短语的正确形式(每空一词)
1.The three star hotel offers a friendly ________ (氛围) and personal service.
2.Scientists in different countries, working _________(独立)of each other, have come up with very similar results.
3.It is his _________(难以置信)effort that leads to his magnificent achievements.
4.Give Tom my _________(祝贺) on his promotion.
5.One by one, the applicants left the interviewer’s office with_________(失望的)looks on their faces.
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处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(^ )，并在其下面写出该加的词。 删除：把多余的词用(＼)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）不计分。
It appears that people don't need any phone box now. In a small British village, people decided to turn a red phone box into a library a few years before. Now, the phone box is one of the country’s smaller libraries. About 150 books placed on shelves in the phone box. Villagers there can take whatever they want and leave their own books for exchange. They can use the library around a clock so it opens 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. Since the library opens its bright door, people from all parts of the village have paid it a visit. Among it there're senior citizens living in the neighbourhood, children getting off school buses and university students are stopping by late at night.
It is convenient for them to use such a wonderful library.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
某英文杂志正在举办 “读一本好书”的活动，邀请你参加，内容包括:
1.谈谈你对阅读的看法；
2.分享一本对你影响最大的书。
注意：1.词数100左右，开头已写好，不计人总词数；
2.文中不得透露个人姓名和学校名称。
I feel it a great honor to be welcomed to get involved in such a meaningful
难度: 中等查看答案及解析