Motivated (有内驱力的 ) or Overachieving?
Everyone has the occasional classmate who hands in his work ahead of time with really beautiful handwriting. Some teachers may cheerfully get the homework by saying "Of course you did it early.I'm sure you've done a good job!" Some teachers may feel annoyed because "The deadline is not until next Friday." Behind this student's back are tons of whispers from his classmates, "Ugh, he is such an
overachiever and it's so annoying ..."
If you ask the same student to explain his behavior, he probably says that he is simply "motivated". Such students refuse to call themselves overachievers but prefer "motivated" instead. They want to shy away from the unpleasant term
"overachiever" but choose to embrace the word "motivated" .
Why is the term "overachiever" used as an insult (侮辱 )? Do we not all work hard to achieve our goals? Why does the "motivated" student not proudly call himself an "overachiever" ?
In my personal experience, being called an overachiever in front of my classmates is not pleasant at all. The word is often connected with an unkind smile or sometimes a hint ofjealousy (嫉妒 )."Overachiever" carries the implied (暗指的 ) sense which "over" lends it - you have done too much and you have gone too far. Anyway, it is beyond the proper degree and just annoying to those students who refuse to put in the effort themselves and get unhappy with you for doing so.
A student would rather think of himself as an excellent student and it is motivation that drives him to do his best. What is the implied meaning of "motivated" ? Connected with positive words like willpower, spirit and determination, the "motivated" student would appear to be competing in an event of the brain Olympics.
Although there are differences in their implications, the student who calls himself "motivated" could actually be a secret overachiever, going over the top for all his work; while the "overachiever" is nothing more than a motivated student, driven by the simple desire to do well and willing to put in time and effort. In fact, the choice lies within the student: to overachieve or not to overachieve; to find the motivation to do well and be driven by it, or to sit back and blame others for overachieving to hide his inability to achieve.
1.According to the passage, overachievers
A. are popular with their classmates B. hand in homework ahead of time
C. are much loved by their teachers D. look down on others for being slow
2.The word "embrace" in Paragraph 2 probably means "_ ".
A. understand B. explain C. doubt D. accept
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Teachers expect students to benefit from their extra work.
B. Students compete with each other to become overachievers.
C. Classmates may laugh at overachievers to hide their inability to achieve.
D. The writer has some pleasant experiences of being called an overachiever.
4.The writer probably agrees tahat
A. students shouldn't be encouraged to be overachievers
B. students without motivation will become overachievers
C. motivated students make better progress than overachievers
D. motivated students have something in common with overachievers
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
As a young boy, I sometimes traveled the country roads with my dad. He was a rural mail carrier. Driving through the countryside was always an adventure: There were animals to see, people to visit, and especially chocolate cookies if you knew where to stop, and Dad did.
One lady had no mailbox, so Dad took the mail into her house every day because she was nearly blind. Once inside, he read her mail and helped her pay her bills.
Mailboxes were sometimes used for other things. One note left in a mailbox read, "Nat, take these eggs to Marian. She’s baking a cake and doesn’t have any eggs. "A young girl wrote letters but had no stamps, so Dad paid for the stamps. One businessman used to leave large amounts of cash in his mailbox for Dad to take to the bank.
Later, father died. As I drove home, I noticed two green and red mailboxes made by father were still on each side of Main Street. Each box had a long narrow hole at the top with white lettering: SANTA CLAUS, NORTH POLE. For years children had dropped letters to Santa through those holes.
When I saw Frank Townsend, Dad's postmaster and great friend for many years. He asked, " What are we going to do about the letters this Christmas?"
“The letters?”
“I guess you never knew.”
"Knew what?”
Remember, when you were a kid and you used to put your letters to Santa in those green and red boxes on Main Street? It was your dad who answered all those letters every year.”
I just sat there with tears in my eyes. It wasn’t hard for me to imagine Dad sitting at the old table in our basement reading those letters and answering each one. I have since spoken with several of the people who received Christmas letters during their childhood, and they told me how amazed they were that Santa had known so much about their homes and families.
For me, just knowing that story about my father was the gift of a lifetime.
1.It can be inferred (推断) from the passage that the writer regarded his travels with Dad as________.
A. great chances to help other people B. happy occasions to play with animals
C. exciting experiences with a lot of fun D. good opportunities to enjoy chocolate cookies 9)
2.The writer provides the detail about the businessman to show that
A. Dad had a strong sense of duty B. Dad was an honest and dependable man
C. Dad had a strong sense of respect D. Dad was a kind and generous man
3.What surprised the children most when they received letters in reply from Santa Claus every year?
A. Santa Claus lived alone in the cold North Pole.
B. Santa Claus answered all their letters every year.
C. Santa Claus had unique（独一无二的） mailboxes for the children．
D. Santa Claus had so much information about their families
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
My summer hols wr CWOT: B4, WE USED 2go 2 NY 2C my bro, his GF thr 3: @ KIDS FTF. ILNY, its gr8.
Can you understand this sentence? If you can’t, don’t feel too bad: neither could the middle school teacher in England who received this as homework. This is Netspeak: the language of computerized communication found on Internet or cellphones. To newcomers, it can look like a completely foreign language. So, what is the "translation of the sentence above? My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother his girlfriend, and their three screaming kids face to face. I love New York, it’s great.
School teachers and parents say this new form of writing is harming the English language. Increasing spelling and grammatical mistakes can be seen in students' writing. They fear the language could become corrupted（面目全非的）.
Everyone should just relax, say linguists（语言学家）.They believe Netspeak is in fact more of a good thing. David Crystal, from the University of Wales, argues that Netspeak and Internet create a new language use and the almost lost art of diary writing has been picked up again. Geoffrey Nunberg, from Stanford University, agrees. " People get better at writing by writing, " he says. "Kids who are now doing text messaging, e-mail, and instant messages will write at least as well as, and possibly better than, their parents.”
Linguist James Milroy says, for centuries, it is believed without exception that young people are harming the language. And you can bet your bottom dollar that when today’s teenagers become tomorrows parents, they too will think this way. Milroy argues that languages do not and cannot become "corrupted", they simply change to meet the new needs
However, Netspeakers do agree that it is important to teach young people how to speak and write Standard(/E)English. Cynthia Me Vey says, I can understand Netspeak worries teachers and it's important that they get across to their pupils that text messaging is for fun, but that learning to write proper English is a must for their future.”
Perhaps, we should give teenagers a little more trust anyway. Erin, age 12, says, " I wouldn’t use text language in my homework. Text is just for fun.”
1.What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?
A. To give an example of a foreign language.
B. To show an example of creative method
C. To express worries about using Netspeak.
D. To start the topic of Netspeak through an example.
2.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Cynthia McVey points out teenagers can deal with Netspeak properly
B. Geoffrey Nunberg believes Netspeakers can write Standard English
C. David Crystal thinks Netspeak helps develop the habit of writing
D. James Milroy says that language is changing and improving
3.The expression "bet your bottom dollar" in paragraph means__________.
A. be quite sure B. be greatly surprised C. think it a pity D. find it interesting
4.What can be the best title for the passage?
A. Netspeak: A Widely-used Language on Internet
B. Netspeak Harming the English Language?
C. Is Netspeak Helpful in Language Learning?
D. Netspeak: Advantages and Disadvantages
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
A strong EI Nino（厄尔尼诺暖流）causes the temperature around the world to rise. “That’s how we will see the influences of climate (气候) change", says Michael Mann, a climate scientist at Penn State University.
The Great Barrier Reef (礁) is far beyond its name. Coral (珊瑚) of all shapes, sizes and colors covers more than 130,000 square meters off the coast of Australia, making it the world's largest reef system with many amazing kinds of life under the sea.
But today the Great Barrier Reef is dying. The waters around the reef become warmer. That warming then causes the bleaching(白化).The bleaching takes the color and the life out of the coral. Bleaching happens when the warm water and pollution drive away the living things that live on the coral and give it color. Within weeks, the reef could die, leaving behind a forest of lifeless, bone white coral. Scientists believe the bleaching may kill more than 15% of the world’s coral. The Great Barrier Reef isn't alone. This is the longest bleaching event ever recorded, " says David Kline, a scientist.
But a bigger worry may be what the bleaching suggests about future climate(气候)change. Climate change may be slow sometimes, but other times it takes great leaps forward, "says Steve Palumbi, an ocean scientist at Stanford University.
Local solutions like reducing fishing and cleaning up, pollution can help slow reef loss, but scientists say a global(8)problem requires a global solution. Nearly 200 countries agreed last year to work to keep global temperatures from rising more than 3. 6F by 2100, but that goal will be hard to reach.
1.The underlined word “It” in Paragraph 2 refers to (指代)_____________.
A. the country –Australia B. the coast of Australia
C. the coral under the sea D. The Great Barrier Reef.
2.What does the writer mean by saying "The Great Barrier Reef isn’t alone. "?
A. There are many other reefs beside the Great Barrier Reef.
B. There are kinds of living things on the Great Barrier Reef.
C. The Great Barrier Reef is becoming warmer and warmer.
D. Some other reefs have the same problem as the Great Barrier Reef.
3.After reading the article, you can learn that__________.
A. the climate is changing quickly within a short time
B. it's hard to see colorful coral when bleaching happens
C. the global warming is the only reason for the death of reefs
D. lots of countries found it easy to make the temperature low
4.What's the writer’s main purpose in writing the article?
A. To draw more attention to global warming B. To explain how bleaching happens.
C. To advise Australians to solve global warming. D. To explain why the world gets warm
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
The pickle(咸菜)jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When Dad got ready for bed, he would empty his pockets and drop his ______ into the jar.
When the jar was filled, we would take the coins to the bank. Each time, as he gave the box of coins to the bank worker, he would say ______ ,”These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the factory all his life like me.”
The years passed, and I finished college and took a job. Once, while visiting my parents, I noticed that the pickle jar was______.I stared at the place beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My father is a man of ______ words and never told me about the values of determination and faith. But the jar had taught me all these virtues (美德)far ______ than any words could have done
When I married, I told my wife Susan about the ______part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life. In my mind, it showed, more than anything else, how much my ______ had loved me. No matter how difficult things got at home，Dad______ to doggedly（坚持不懈地）drop his coins into the jar.
The first Christmas after our ______ was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Susan carried the baby into my parents' ______ to feed her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was ______ strange in her eyes. She took my hand, _______me into the room.
“Look, "she said softly, her eyes directing me to a place on the floor ______ the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never been ______ stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and ______ a handful of coins.
With the strong feeling choking(使... 哽咽)me, I dropped the coins into the jar.
1.A. coins B. money C. pickle D. purse
2.A. seriously B. gently C. anxiously D. proudly
3.A. sold B. gone C. stolen D. broken
4.A. no B. few C. many D. big
5.A. harder B. easier C. less D. more
6.A. important B. dangerous C. fantastic D. humorous
7.A. aunt B. uncle C. mother D. father
8.A. began B. wanted C. helped D. continued
9.A. son B. daughter C. grandson D. granddaughter
10.A. stud B. kitchen C. bedroom D. bathroom
11.A. nothing B. something C. anything D. everything
12.A. leading B. sending C. carrying D. putting
13.A. in B. on C. under D. beside
14.A. removed B. remained C. returned D. . replaced
15.A. handed in B. pulled out C. picked up D. looked for
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，然后根据号内所给汉语意思写出单淑的正确形式（每字一词）・
Pascal Pich is an old and great athlete. He has got 1.(几个) records to his name. This May, he completed the longest and shortest race of his career---over 3,000 kilometers pedaled (踩踏)on an unmoving bike.
Being 2.(疯狂的) is the way he managed to deal with the challenge. He succeeded in 3.(骑)around 600 kilometers a day on an unmoving bike with little sleep. Only 120 to 180 4.(分钟)of sleep a day made it possible to shorten the time.
Pascal already holds the world record for the longest distance pedaled on an unmoving bike in six days, 5.(在…之后) completing a 2,878-km journey last year. So why did he take on a challenge to beat his own record so soon? Because in 6.(四月), a Canadian had been two of his ten records, the longest distance travelled on an unmoving bike in 70 hours and in 128 hours. Pascal 7.(决定)he had to take back what was his.
Pascal Pich started his six-day challenge on May 2 and finished on May 7. A new record for the longest distance pedaled in six days was 8.(设立) successfully. “It proves me that at the age of 53, I can complete at a high 9. (水平), “ he said. "As long as I can perform, I10.(仍然) haven’t found the limits of my body.”
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入一个适当的词，或填入括号中所给单词的正确形式。
Young Person’s Rail-card is very popular in Britain now. It gives young people the chance 1.(buy)cheap train tickets across the country. Just imagine, it could take you to festivals, to see friends, or to London for a weekend break, at 2. lower price.
Who can apply?
Anyone 3.is between 16 and 25 years of age. You will need to provide something to prove that you are under 26. For this, only your ID card, driving licence, passport or medical card will be acceptable.
Or, if you are an adult student over 25 years old but)receiving formal education, you can 4.apply（申请）. You will need to get your teacher to sign the application form（申请表）. “ Formal education' refers to studies of more than 15 5.(hour)per week for at least 20 weeks a year college.
Then take your completed application form with a recent photo of 6.(you), $28 and other materials needed to any main railway station or student travel office to apply for the card.
How to use your rail-card?
You can use7. anytime-weekends, holidays or during the week. Please ask at your local station or contact a railway travel agent for more information.
If a rail-card does not have the 8.(person) name signed, it will be considered invalid (无效的) No one else may use 9. our rail-car or any tickets bought with it. You will be asked to pay the full price of the ticket if you are unable to show your own rail-card with the ticket for a check during a journey.
Tickets at reduced prices are not available for first-class travels or for travels abroad, such as to France or Germany. Passengers will 10.(require) to buy regular priced tickets if they want to use these services.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
任务型阅读
Although many people read online, books have not gone out of fashion. In Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, lucky passengers may find books somewhere on the underground.
The Fair, an online publishing company, has put 10，000 books on the underground, planes and taxis to make people more interested in reading. This project is called “Mobook”．
“Mobook” gets its idea from “Books on the Underground”， a community project in London. The purpose of “Books on the Underground” is to encourage people to read more. Zhang Wei, the CEO of the Fair also wanted to do something in China. He sent an email to Ms Cordelia Oxley, the leader of “Books on the Underground”， describing his plan and explaining the rules of “Mobook”. The leader replied to him in just two hours, saying that she thought the idea was great and she would offer help if needed.
But “Mobook” project is a little different from that in London. It has its own online system. People who want to donate books must give their information online. QR code stickers(二维码标签) are then sent to their addresses. The book owners should stick them on the books before donating books and readers can know where the books are from with the help of QR codes.
“Mobook” is a hot topic. Now thousands of bookworms have already taken part in the project. Zhang Wei said, “I am happy to see more and more people share their views(观点) about the books online and enjoy the happiness that reading brings to them.”
根据上面短文内容回答下列问题(每小题答案不超过6个单词)。
1.How many books has the Fair put on the underground, planes and taxis?
________________________________________________________________________
2.What's the purpose of “Books on the Underground”？
________________________________________________________________________
3.Did Ms Cordelia Oxley support Zhang Wei?
________________________________________________________________________
4.Where should the book owners stick the QR code stickers?
________________________________________________________________________
5.According to Zhang Wei, how can people share their views about the books?
________________________________________________________________________
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
书面表达
在每个人的心中，总会渴望拥有某种东西。你想要拥有什么？请以“ I want to have_______”为题，用英语写一篇短文，谈谈你想拥有它的理由及你会有怎样的想法或感受。
要求：1．请补全标题，如 a football， a magic paintbrush等。
2．文中不得出现真实姓名和学校名称。
3．词数：100词左右
I want to have__________________________________________________________________
难度: 困难查看答案及解析