It was September 5, 2009. Lexi Youngberg, then 16, was on vacation in Spring Lake, Michigan. She was riding on a small boat with her friends, Robby and Kaitlin, when a motorboat crashed into them. The sound was so loud that other boaters heard it over the roar (轰鸣声) of their engines. The teen boy who had been driving the motorboat stepped on the gas by mistake. Kaitlin, 23, had only small cuts, but Robby, 15, had been badly cut by the propeller (螺旋桨). And Lexi was floating facedown in the water. When one boater swam to Lexi, she was breathing. However, she was unconscious. She had a deep cut on her head. And the lower part of her left leg, just below the knee, was gone. A doctor rode up in another boat and tried to save Robby, but it was too late.
For Lexi, the good news is that she survived while the bad news is that she lost one of her legs forever. When Lexi looked at her swollen(浮肿的) leg, she felt hopeless. But as time passed, Lexi began to feel stronger. She was grateful that her life had been spared, and she decided to make the most of it. At the end of November 2009, Lexi met with Dr. John Hardy, who was an expert at making artificial legs. She hoped he would help her get back to doing the things she loved.
Three years after the accident, Lexi moved on with her life. In spring 2011, she joined a soccer team in her school. That fall, she started college. Lexi is thankful that she can still do the things she loves. One day, she wants to be a physical therapist (理疗师) and work with those with disabilities. But first she plans to compete in the Paralympics. Whatever Lexi decides to do, one thing is certain: Nothing is going to get in her way.
1.How was Lexi in the accident?
A. She had a small cut on her head.
B. She was unable to feel anything.
C. She was badly cut by the propeller.
D. She lost the lower parts of her legs.
2.What’s the right order of the events about Lexi?
a. She went to college.
b. She met with Dr. John Hardy.
c. She had one of her legs removed.
d. She played with her friends on a boat.
e. She joined a soccer team in her school.
A. d, c, b, e, a B. c, b, a, e, d
C. d, c, e, a, b D. c, d, a, e, b
3.It can be inferred from the text that Lexi was _____.
A. generous B. strong-minded
C. creative D. warm-hearted
4.The main purpose of the text is to _____.
A. persuade us not to go boating
B. entertain us with sports news
C. tell us the story of a brave teen
D. show how to survive an accident
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
When someone told 85-year-old Johnny Long that he was called a living legend, he replied, “I don’t know about that, but I’m living, and that’s important.”
Starting in 1949 as a high school band director and later as director of the Troy University band, Johnny Long became known as one of the most inspirational band directors in America. More than three hundred of his students went on to become band directors them-selves. “I have been a band director for more than 60 years and all I know about the word band is that you spell it F-U-N,” Long said. “And if you change that, it’s over.”
Long retired 14 years ago to spend more time with his wife Mary Lynn. But his passion (热情) for bands never went away. He dreamed of forming a top-notch (拔尖的) community band in Troy. But Troy is a small town — with not a ton of top-notch talent. “I didn’t think it would work, I really didn’t,” Long said.
Fortunately, there was one thing Johnny hadn’t considered: the devotion of his former students. Now, once a week during the concert season, they drive in from all over the south and across the decades.
65-year-old Bobby Johnson was in Long’s first college class. He lives in Atlanta and drives 3 hours to practice. Johnson said he does it because Long’s “such a unique character and I just admire him so much.”
Many people do it for the same reason. “He’s the single biggest influence on my career.” “He was a father figure to me. He’s just a genuine person.”
Long said he wanted to be remembered as a teacher. “I think ‘teacher’ is the greatest word in the English language, next to ‘mother’.”
1.What Long got most from bands was ______.
A. pleasure B. health C. wealth D. honor
2.Why did Long retire 14 years ago?
A. Because he found no band talent in Troy.
B. Because he was tired of working as a director.
C. Because he hoped to spend more time with his wife.
D. Because he found his students were not devoted to music.
3.The words of Long’s students show that ______.
A. Long treated his students like a father
B. Long was born to be a good teacher
C. Long influenced his students greatly
D. Long was very special as a teacher
4.What’s the main idea of the text?
A. Johnny Long still teaches at the age of 85.
B. A band director had more than 300 students.
C. A band lover organized a band in a small town.
D. 85-year-old band director still inspires others.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Teachers Wanted for Nexus English Language Learning Centre
Posted By: Nexus English Language Learning Centre (nexus.english.dos@gmail.com)
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for starting teachers that have just finished their qualification (资格) to work and to get professional experience. The position will suit enthusiastic and hardworking career-minded people who want to show how good they are or can become.
Of course, you need to have excellent subject knowledge. And you must be prepared to do front and back end work including developing guidebooks and co-writing workbooks. High rewards await top performers who also want to be leaders. You will also need to be a team player and a skilled organizer.
Application Requirements
* You must have the legal right to work in the UK.
* You must hold a UK recognized teaching qualification.
The Benefits
Nexus English Language Learning Centre (NELLC) offers competitive rates of pay, additional bonuses (奖金), a chance to work in top London schools, and continuous professional development. We pride ourselves on our personal service and support. If you work hard with a strong teaching skill including a high self-motivation, then we certainly want you.
● Location: Talbot Avenue, Leeds LS17 6SF
● Salary (薪水): £110 — £150 per day
● Hours: Full Time
● Telephone: 0113 3368585
● Published: 8, February 2014
● Closing Date: 5, April 2014
Due to the large number of applications, it is not always possible to respond to each candidate. If you are interested in this position, send us a personalized cover letter and tell us more about yourself right now.
1.To work in NELLC, you need to _____.
A. be prepared to work full-time
B. have plenty of teaching experience
C. be allowed by the law to live in the US
D. be able to write workbooks independently
2.What benefits can candidates expect from NELLC?
A. Additional language skills.
B. More earnings and holidays.
C. More professional experience.
D. Chances of working in a college.
3.Which of the following dates is suitable for you to send a cover letter to NELLC?
A. 5, January 2014. B. 6, February 2014.
C. 8, March 2014. D. 10, April 2014.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Even after centuries of exploration(探险), the ocean still holds its mysteries. Although we know more today about the world’s oceans and creatures living in them than ever before, every once in a while the sea brings up something so strange, so unexpected, that makes the world wonder what it could be.
Such was the case when the currents (水流) of the Mediterranean Ocean recently washed a 13-foot-long, smelly body onto the shores of the village of Villaricos in Andalusia, Spain. An early report in the Spanish publication Lavante described the strange, horned (带角的) body as what might seem like a big fish, but it was already in pieces. Locals joked that it was some kind of Loch Ness Monster.
The media jumped right on the creature, of course. Some sites called it a horned sea monster. The popular newspaper Boing Boing called it a dragon. Some people guessed that it might be an oarfish(皇带鱼), which is actually a rarely seen kind of big fish that can grow up to 55 feet long.
But now the experts have weighed in and we’re sorry to report that it’s not a dragon, a Loch Ness Monster, or even an oarfish. “That is actually a shark skeleton (骨架),” Professor Grubbs from Florida State University told NBC News. “The parts toward the back were confusing me, but those are the lower caudal fin (尾鳍) supports. The “horns” are the scapulocoracoids which support the pectoral fins(胸鳍).” Scapulocoracoids are backbones common to many animals.
So there we go, another mystery solved. Well, the ancient maps that once described areas of the ocean as places of dragons have yet to be proven true. But it’s good to know that the ocean still has a few surprises for us, even in cases where they’re just dead, smelly bodies.
1.The creature mentioned in the text _____.
A. was about 15 feet long with a horn
B. could probably grow up to 55 feet long
C. was already in pieces but it was still alive
D. was found on the shores of a village in Spain
2.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 really refer to?
A. A dragon. B. A shark skeleton.
C. An oarfish. D. A horned sea monster.
3.The third paragraph is mainly about _____.
A. how the creature was found
B. the characteristics of an oarfish
C. people’s guesses about the creature
D. Boing Boing’s opinion of the creature
4.The main purpose of the text is to _____.
A. show the mystery of the ocean
B. ask people to protect sea animals
C. introduce a rarely seen kind of fish
D. show how to find surprises in the sea
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
How to concentrate on studies
How to get your mind to concentrate on studies when there are all possible distractions (分心的事)? This is the biggest question that students face when it’s exam time. Well, here are some tips that can help you with concentration.
Plan your timetable
1. However, be realistic with your timetable and do not expect too much out of yourself.
2.
If you study for 5 hours without rest, you maybe get bored. So it is advised that you keep on changing your subjects so that you do not get bored. However, make sure you study at least 2 hours at each subject at a stretch (连续地).
Take interest
Unless you like what you are doing, it is not possible to focus on that task. 3. You can start with your favorite subject and move on to difficult ones, once you begin to study. You can also take the difficult subject when your mind is most refreshed.
Set up a study area
It is better to have a study room where you can concentrate properly without any distractions. If that is not possible, you can set up a study table in a separate corner in your home. 4.
5.
Your mind will be at its sharpest only if you let it rest for enough time. Sleep for at least 6-8 hours depending upon your individual requirements. Eat healthy meals and reward yourself some free time after studies.
A. Get enough rest
B. Introduce variety
C. Get rid of distractions
D. You may even ask a friend to study with you.
E. It is always best to have a plan before studying.
F. So you have to take interest in what you are studying.
G. Make sure you study at this place so that you can help your mind focus.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I have learned a lot from being a taxi driver. I’ve been in the for many years, and I know there is a lot about it that is not so . Taxi drivers have to be tough to the New York traffic eight hours a day. Because taxi drivers are tough, people get the wrong that they are bad. However, you can read in the almost every week that taxi drivers the things people left in their cabs. If they weren’t , you wouldn’t read those moving stories in the papers.
In 1913, I bought my own cab. It was difficult at that time so I had part of my money for something unexpected. I did pretty well, in those days. Once in Brooklyn, I found a in my cab. I remembered helping a lady with a lot of baggage that day, so I went back to where I had her off. It took me almost two days to find her so as to the ring. I didn’t get as much as “ ”. Still, I felt good because I had done what was right.
People ask me about the . As far as I know, everyone will give you something. You know most Americans are pretty . I always try to be nice to everyone, whether they tip or not. In all my years of driving a cab, I have never had any with the public. I try to others the way I want to be treated. I have been trying this for a long time, and the longer I try, the it gets. Up till now, I still hold the view that is one of the greatest qualities of people.
1.A. project B. department C. business D. organization
2.A. good B. helpful C. bad D. advisable
3.A. cut B. fight C. avoid D. enjoy
4.A. fact B. truth C. theory D. impression
5.A. book B. magazine C. newspaper D. advertisement
6.A. take out B. bring in C. set aside D. turn in
7.A. funny B. nice C. polite D. wise
8.A. left behind B. kept back C. put away D. given away
9.A. even B. yet C. still D. just
10.A. bag B. dress C. diamond D. ring
11.A. seen B. dropped C. knocked D. set
12.A. buy B. return C. repair D. find
13.A. Thank you B. I’m sorry C. It doesn’t matter D. With pleasure
14.A. roads B. passengers C. places D. tips
15.A. actually B. certainly C. gradually D. especially
16.A. successful B. generous C. serious D. independent
17.A. agreement B. connection C. trouble D. relationship
18.A. pay B. follow C. treat D. entertain
19.A. easier B. harder C. smaller D. clearer
20.A. curiosity B. confidence C. modesty D. Honesty
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Today, after finishing dinner in town, my husband and I were driving back home. As we pulled over, we saw a neighbor couple 1. (paint) their furniture.
I went inside our home, 2. (change), and then went back out again to ask our neighbors if they needed any help. While leaving my home, I was plagued (困扰) by thoughts of embarrassment, denial, or being received but looked down on skeptically. 3. , I gathered the courage to go down and ask them anyway!
Initially, the woman denied. Then, the man said, “Sure”, and he handed me a spray paint (喷漆) bottle. We got into some good conversations 4. painting with great effort. When we finished, I briefly chatted 5. them before leaving.
In the end, not only 6. I enjoy helping them, but also learned about my neighbors. On the way home, I must admit, I couldn’t help 7. wonder what they might be thinking about me. 8. is tough to do a good deed for others and not expect that they will be thinking good about you.
Today’s experience taught me some 9. (value) lessons in my life! 10. (hope), these lessons will help me continue my acts of kindness in future.
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，每句中最多两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在此处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出修改的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在其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（从十一处起）不计分。
Recently, our class has held a heated discussion about how evening classes should be cancelled. Some of us in favor of the idea that evening classes should be cancelled. To begin with, cancelling evening classes mean that we have more time to learn by ourselves. Besides, they will have more time to develop our hobby such as reading, playing sports, drawing and so on. However, others are firm opposed to this idea. Comparing with studying at home, studying at school may lead to higher study efficiency. In addition to, the problems in study can be dealing with as soon as possible.
As far as I’m concerned, I prefer studying at home because I want to form the habit of being independence.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
你的家乡是一个依山傍水的小镇。过去，解放前，这里人们生活极其贫困。但现在人们生活的各个方面都发生了很大变化。
1. 请根据下面表格的提示，写一篇130词左右的短文，介绍该镇的变化情况。
2. 灵活运用连贯词；准确运用时态、语态。
3. 适当运用固定短语、搭配、经典句型。
| 人 口 | 约20万 |
| 面 积 | 约360平方公里 |
| 地理概况 | 坐落在大山脚下，面临一条大河，新建有许多工厂、商店、医院、学校 |
| 教育状况 | 解放(liberation)前只有一所学校，只有富家子弟可以上学，现在已建起了10所学校，每个孩子都有机会上学了。 |
| 生活状况 | 生活丰富多彩，人们工作之余，可以逛商店、看电影、跳舞、参加体育活动等。都过上了幸福生活 |
Here, I’d like to introduce my hometown.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析