I was stopped at a red light only a mile or so from my goal of my brother’s house. We were planning to drive down together to North Carolina to be with my father who was badly ill.
As I waited at the stop light experiencing this forced slowdown, I noticed Sharper’s Florist over to the left. It was the same place where I had experienced many things— floods of memories went through my mind as the light seemed a blessing. I noticed the wine store straight ahead where my father and I had been many times before, picking out the beer of the week. We both liked German beer.
The light finally became green and I made my left turn and drove through the poor section of our hometown. I remembered how each thanksgiving my family would be together. I also remembered how my father would take some time out of each thanksgiving to make sure there was no one hungry in the neighborhoods surrounding where we lived. I can remember as a young boy going with him to deliver some food. I was scared. I had never been into this part of town this deeply before.
My father seemed unfazed (不受困扰的) by this and went about his business. The people we went to seemed to know him and gratefully accepted what he came to offer. My father seemed able to give away the food in a way that honored those he was giving to. This was not an arrogant act. He would stop at each place and talk a little, which I can remember totally pissing me off (使…厌烦). I wanted to get the hell out of there. My father wanted to be sure everyone had food. If there were people he found who didn’t have food, he would take the time to go back and get more. That’s the kind of man he was.
1.When the father was ill, he _______.
A. lived in North Carolina
B. gave away food to the poor
C. came to help the poor in his hometown
D. stayed at the home of the author’s brother
2.The author mentions the wine store to tell us _______.
A. the same taste as his father
B. the life in his childhood
C. the experience with his father
D. the birthplace of his father
3.The author was afraid of giving away food to the poor probably because _______.
A. his father didn’t stay with him then
B. his father didn’t take good care of him
C. he was unfamiliar with the surroundings
D. he had never met with so many poor people
4.The underlined word “arrogant” in the last paragraph probably means _______.
A. angry B. proud C. careless D. wild
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Assistant Professor, Musical Theatre Dance
Wichita State University seeks a full-time, 9-month assistant professor, beginning in August. Applicants are required to have a degree in dance area, teaching experience at a professional or college level, ability to direct and teach stage movement. The salary depends on qualifications and experience.
For complete information visit http://finearts.wichita.edu.
Full Professor in Theatre and Dance
The Department of Theatre & Dance at the University of California at San Diego (http://www-theatre.uscd.edu) is seeking an experienced theatre artist in lighting design. Applicants must work for us for at least one year. Significant professional experience is required. This position is expected to teach at both graduate and undergraduate levels.
A review of applications will start on June 1st. Application deadline: September 1st.
Technical Director in Performing and Fine Arts
De Sales University’s Performing and Fine Arts Department seeks a highly skilled, professional technical director. The position is a 10-month staff position with the possibility of summer employment with the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Professional experience is required; MFA is preferred.
Please email materials to [email protected] Screening of applications begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Assistant Director— Media Resources Center
Maryland Institute College of Art is seeking an Assistant Director of Media Resources Center in the Academic Affairs Division.
Qualifications for the position include a degree in Art History or related fields with knowledge of art and design history, library experience, excellent interpersonal and communication skills and familiarity with photoshop and scanning.
A review of applications will begin immediately; job announcements will remain open until the position is filled. Applicants are required to work for us at least 11 months. They can send emails to [email protected] The salary differs depending on your experience. Please include your desired salary in your application letter.
1.If an applicant has 9.5-month free time, he or she can pay close attention to the ad of _______.
A. Full Professor in Theatre and Dance
B. Assistant Professor, Musical Theatre Dance
C. Technical Director in Performing and Fine Arts
D. Assistant Director— Media Resources Center
2.If you have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, you can apply to _______.
A. Wichita State University
B. the University of California
C. De Sales University
D. Maryland Institute College of Art
3.According to the advertisements, we can learn that _______.
A. all the jobs mentioned in the text require experience
B. all the jobs mentioned above promise a good salary
C. all the reviews of applications will begin immediately
D. all the job announcements will remain open until the positions are filled
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Robinson Crusoe is a famous novel written by Daniel Defoe. The book tells the story of a man who is shipwrecked (遭遇海难的). He spends 28 years on an island near Venezuela. The book tells the story of everything that happens to Robinson Crusoe. He hopes someone will rescue him, but he has been there for so long on his own that he also begins to fear being rescued.
Robinson Crusoe was published in 1719. Most experts believe the story is based on the life of Alexander Selkirk, who was a Scottish sailor. On an expedition (探险) in 1704, Selkirk had an argument with his ship’s captain. Selkirk thought the ship was not safe and was about to fall apart.
When the ship stopped at a remote island to get fresh water, Selkirk got off. He tried to get the other crew members to leave with him, but nobody would. The shop then sailed away without him. Selkirk spent four years and four months on his own on the island, known as Aguas Buenas.
Selkirk was finally rescued by a ship that visited the island in 1709. The ship’s captain was grateful to Selkirk because he provided food for the crew when they arrived.
Now archaeologists think they have found the remains of Selkirk’s camp on Aguas Buenas. They found two deep holes that would have held wooden posts. The archaeologists say this is evidence that Selkirk built a shelter there. The post holes are near a fresh water stream. They are located quite high up, which would have meant that Selkirk was able to watch out for the ships coming close to the island.
The most interesting evidence, the archaeologists say, is part of a piece of equipment used by sailors to navigate (导航). Historians believe Selkirk was a navigator, so the instrument could have belonged to him.
Robinson Crusoe was published ten years after Selkirk was rescued. Most experts think Daniel Defoe heard and read stories about Selkirk, which inspired him to write the book.
1.Why did Selkirk choose to land on the remote island?
A. Because he had quarrels with the crew members.
B. Because the captain ordered him to get fresh water.
C. Because he wanted to go on an adventure there.
D. Because he thought the ship he was on was in danger.
2.We can infer from the text that the ship that visited Aguas Buenas in 1709 _______.
A. lost its way while sailing
B. lacked fresh water upon arrival
C. was being navigated by Selkirk
D. was running out of food upon arrival
3.How could Selkirk see ships that might rescue him, according to archaeologists?
A. By asking the crew members on the ships.
B. By sending messages to the ships’ captains.
C. By watching from his shelter high on the island.
D. By using a piece of equipment used to navigate.
4.The author wrote the text to _______.
A. explain the origin of Robinson Crusoe
B. promote sales to Robinson Crusoe
C. criticise Alexander Selkrik’s deeds
D. praise Daniel Defoe for his writing inspiration
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Preventing obesity (肥胖) and smoking can save lives, but it doesn’t save money, reported researchers. “It was a small surprise, for it is against the common belief,” said Pieter Van Baal, who led the study. “But it makes sense. If you live longer, then you cost the health system more.”
The researchers found that from age 20 to 56, obese people racked up (累计) the most expensive health costs. But on average, healthy people lived 84 years. Smokers lived about 77 years, and obese people lived about 80 years. Smokers and obese people tended to have more heart disease than healthy people. Therefore in the long run, the thin and healthy group cost about $417, 000, from age 20 on. Smokers cost about $326, 000 and obese people $371, 000.
“The result throws a bucket of cold water onto the idea, based on guesswork, that obesity is going to cost trillions of dollars,” said Patrick Basham, a professor of health politics. “If we’re going to worry about the future of obesity, we should stop worrying about its financial impact,” he said.
“The benefits of obesity prevention may not be seen immediately in terms of cost saving in tomorrow’s budget, but there are long-term gains,” said Van Baal. “These are often immeasurable when it comes to people living longer and healthier lives.” In the meanwhile, he said that governments should recognize that successful smoking and obesity prevention programs mean that people will have a longer chance of dying of something more expensive later in life.
“Lung cancer is a cheap disease to treat because people don’t survive very long. But if they are old enough to get Alzheimer’s (早老性痴呆症) one day, they may survive longer and cost more. We are not advising that governments stop trying to prevent obesity,” Van Baal said. “But they should do it for the right reasons.”
1.Among middle-aged people, who may cost the health system most?
A. Those who are heavy smokers.
B. Those who are overweight.
C. Those who are too thin.
D. Those who are suffering from heart attacks.
2.What can we know about the belief that obesity costs much?
A. It turns out to be incorrect.
B. It comes from scientific study.
C. It is based on medical evidence.
D. It has changed over the past years.
3.According to the text, governments prevent obesity for the purpose of _______.
A. reducing the risks of suffering cancer
B. weakening obesity’s financial impact
C. making sure of people’s long and healthy life
D. reducing the money spent on medical programs
4.What would be the best title for this text?
A. Recent Medical Study Shows Truth about Health
B. Preventing Obesity and Smoking May Cost More
C. Obesity and Smoking Lead to Expensive Diseases
D. Governments Change Attitude towards Obesity and Smoking
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。（如果所用的答题卡没有E、F、G选项，则选E涂A、B，选F涂A、C，选G涂A、D。）
How to Be Creative
Most of us think that creativity is a quality belonging only to artists, writers, or dancers, rather than ourselves. 1. The following tips are a great beginning for developing our creativity.
1. Get out of your comfort zone
We eagerly accept the familiar and fear the unknown. Break out of your usual patterns and welcome creativity into your life. As stated earlier, the human brain was designed to recognize patterns. 2. In fact, our comfort zone is nothing more than a collection of patterns. As we become more efficient at recognizing and using patterns, we rely less on creativity to find new paths. We should force ourselves out of our comfort zones and open up new possibilities.
2. Try different things
If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. We are creatures of habits and routines, and creativity hates routines. If you usually drive to work, take the subway for a few days. 3. Interrupt your routine, experiment and try something new. New things are often creative, but the same old thing never is.
4.
Having a great idea is not enough, you must work to make it a reality. Have you ever seen a new product and realized that you thought of the same thing long ago? Yet someone else is making money with “your” idea. 5. The difference between a dreamer and a doer is action. Do whatever it takes to bring your ideas to life. If you can put them into practice, you are well on your way to improving your creativity in all areas of your life.
A. Take action
B. Seek several options
C. Think from the other person’s point of view.
D. If you normally eat in the office, have lunch under a tree.
E. The truth is that we are all born with the capacity to be creative.
F. We continue to create patterns and routines for almost everything we do.
G. We all have great ideas sometimes, but only a few people turn their ideas into reality.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
完形填空,阅读下面的短文，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。
This morning after I got the news that my best friend, Sean Misner, who was one of the firefighters, died in an Arizona wildfire in June, I created a Facebook page in his .
Sean and I were like brothers. We met playing baseball when we were eight years old. We life’s ups and downs together. He was 26 when he died.
I was in when I found out the situation. Friends of his photos and information on his page, and I set up a way for people to money to Sean’s wife, Amanda, and their son, right through Facebook.
My sister is a journalist, and she suggested that we arrange everything while the fire was getting national . In the first couple of days, Sean’s page got 2, 000 likes. Today it has more than 27, 000 likes.
When Sean’s family drove his ashes 500 miles from Prescott, Arizona, to his in Santa Ynez, California, firefighters had been standing on every highway overpass (天桥).
I was surprised at how much it me to see that other people cared. Strangers were sending Facebook messages, baby clothes to Amanda and we’ve about $10, 000 for his son’s education. One post is from a little boy in Nevada who said, when he he wants to be a firefighter. It touched me. People posted messages about what a hero Sean was and they were right. There is a lot of on that Facebook page. I one day, when Sean’s son, Sean Jaxon, is enough, he will see how his father was through this page.
During moments when I miss Sean, I visit the , and it makes me smile. On my birthday or his birthday or some date, I’ll read the messages and look at the photos that people have posted. It’s a way for me to keep his memory .
1.A. honour B. absence C. existence D. death
2.A. got through B. passed through C. went through D. looked through
3.A. fear B. horror C. anxiety D. shock
4.A. took B. hung C. developed D. posted
5.A. save B. donate C. make D. earn
6.A. practically B. sincerely C. quickly D. regularly
7.A. attention B. support C. sympathy D. recognition
8.A. office B. home C. school D. community
9.A. entertained B. frightened C. comforted D. astonished
10.A. offering B. intending C. expecting D. conveying
11.A. grasped B. founded C. figured D. raised
12.A. turns up B. picks up C. comes up D. grows up
13.A. deeply B. eventually C. slightly D. gently
14.A. information B. money C. love D. emotion
15.A. believe B. wonder C. doubt D. realize
16.A. tall B. old C. strong D. firm
17.A. excited B. satisfied C. respected D. encouraged
18.A. tomb B. Internet C. page D. reserve
19.A. specific B. special C. available D. accessible
20.A. alive B. awake C. apart D. awful
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。
I can well remember that I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class at the age of 9! You can imagine how 1. (terrible) shy I was with so many eyes 2. (fix) upon me. I had no 3. (choose) but to prepare for it, though. First of all, I was to draft the speech, which was just a piece of cake for me, a good writer. But the hardest part4. (lie) in my oral presentation from my memory— for to read from the paper was not allowed. The real moment began 5. I stood on the platform with my legs trembling and my mind blank. But my listeners were waiting patiently without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found myself back, 6. (deliver) my speech with difficulty. After what seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding— I made7. ! From then on, my fear of talking before an audience disappeared. Actually with my 8. (confident) building up, I now turn out to be a great speaker. Looking back, I know the greatest difficulty on our way 9. success is our fear. Overcome it 10. we will be able to achieve our goals.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
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限一词。
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
After school, I was about to enter into my apartment when I saw a little dirty dog lie beside the dustbin. He looked extremely weak. Immediately the homeless dog filled me of sympathy. So I decided to take him home. I gave him some food and a bath. After the bath he looked energy and refreshed. What a lovely dog!
When my parents got home, I asked that I could keep the dog. To my surprised and joy, they agreed. Up to now, he has become member of our family and everyone had enjoyed his company. Looked at the cute and happy dog today, I realize that I was right to help him. I offered him a shelter and he brought ourselves great happiness and laughter.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
书面表达
假如你是李华，你校即将举行一年一度的“校园书市 (a campus book fair)”活动，其目的是给同学们提供一个交换、利用图书的机会。请你用英语写信给你的加拿大笔友Mike, 介绍此次活动的有关情况。内容应括：
1. 活动目的；
2. 活动内容：买书，卖书，交换图书;
3. 活动意义。
注意：
1．词数100左右；
2．可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3．开头已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Mike,
How are you doing these days?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析