Around three forty-five on a rainy Saturday morning, I was woken up by the sound of my pager(呼机) beeping. As a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician, I can never count on a full night of sleep. I pulled myself out of bed and went toward the desk to grab my radio. Our crew was being sent to a nearby home where a man was in cardiac arrest (心脏骤停). We found the man lying on the kitchen floor with his wife beside him. We rushed the patient to the hospital, but despite our efforts, we were unable to save his life.
In my line of life, I rarely get any recognition from the patients we treat, or from their loved ones. But that night, a man’s wife approached us, and through her tears, whispered, “Thank you.” Then she hugged each of us. She knew we answered her late-night call for help, even though the ending was not positive.
There is something deeply rewarding about helping people in these circumstances. Sometimes, I’m able to make their worst day a bit better: like seeing the tears of an injured child turn into a smile when I gave him an interesting toy; or watching a terrified mother’s screams turn into tears of joy when she realized her baby was going to be fine.
Experiences like these allow me to see the impact my work has on others. At the same time, I also know the effect it has had on my own life. As a teenager, I felt awkward when my dad hugged me and said, “ I love you, my dear son.” I was equally uncomfortable and responded, “I love you.” But then I imagined him lying on the kitchen floor that rainy night and realized that my opportunity to say those three words could---at any moment---be taken away forever. Now, I extremely treasure the moment when my father says those three words to me. I’ve learned to appreciate every relationship I have, to tell people I care about them, and to never take anything in life for granted.
1. On that rainy Saturday morning, the author was woken to ____________.
A. meet his father for the last time
B. put out a really big fire
C. save a man’s life
D. do a scientific experiment
2.The author mentioned the injured child and the terrified mother to show that__________.
A. Life was not always pleasant
B. His help could bring people happiness
C. He saved a lot of people
D. They were very grateful to him
3. The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 4 refers to ___________.
A. a rainy Saturday morning
B. special love
C. others’ recognition
D. the author’s work
4.According to this passage, we know that ___________.
A. The author’s work greatly influenced him
B. The author’s father died several years ago
C. The author regretted treating his patients badly
D. The author never treasured every relation with others
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Winter begins in the north on December 22nd. People and animals have been doing what they always do to prepare for the cold months. Squirrels, for example, have been busy gathering nuts from trees. Well, scientists have been busy gathering information about what the squirrels do with the food they collect.
They examined differences between red squirrels and gray squirrels in the American state of Indiana. The scientists wanted to know how these differences could affect the growth of black walnut trees. The black walnut is the nut of choice for both kinds of squirrels. The black walnut tree is also a central part of some hardwood forests.
Rob Swihart of Purdue University did the study with Jake Goheen, a former Purdue student now at the University of New Mexico. The two researchers estimate that several times as many walnuts grow when gathered by gray squirrels as compared to red squirrels. Gray squirrels and red squirrels do not store nuts and seeds in the same way. Gray squirrels bury nuts one at a time in a number of places. But they seldom remember where they buried every nut. So some nuts remain in the ground. Conditions are right for them to develop and grow in the following spring. Red squirrels, however, store large groups of nuts above ground. Professor Swihart calls “death traps for seeds”.
Gray squirrels are native to Indiana. But Professor Swihart says their numbers began to decrease as more forests were cut for agriculture. Red squirrels began to spread through the state during the past century.
The researchers say red squirrels are native to forests that stay green all year, unlike walnut trees. They say the cleaning of forest land for agriculture has helped red squirrels invade Indiana. Jake Goheen calls them a sign of an environmental problem more than a cause.
1.The study done by Rob Swihart and Jake Goheen is to ________.
A. find out the living conditions for squirrels
B. do something to get rid of squirrels
C. save the forests in the American state of Indiana
D. learn squirrels’ influence on black walnut trees
2. The difference between gray squirrels and red squirrels mainly lies in ________.
A. the way they store the walnuts
B. the way they gather the walnut
C. the number of the nuts they can collect
D. the fact that the gray squirrels have a bad memory
3. When Professor Swihart says “death traps for seeds”, he actually means that ________.
A. red squirrels eat more nuts than gray squirrels
B. nuts above the ground will not develop into plants
C. gray squirrels and red squirrels will have severe fights
D. seeds can be traps for other animals in the forest
4.According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A. Gray squirrels do more harm to the forest than red squirrels.
B. Red squirrels and gray squirrels have helped the spread of walnut trees.
C. Human beings should bear some responsibility for the decreasing number of gray squirrels.
D. The cleaning of forest land benefits gray squirrels directly.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
I am seeking a babysitter for my 6-month-old son. A few hours on Saturdays and Sundays to help me and then other times as needed. He or she should be over 18, responsible, loving, warm, and have some experience in caring for babies. This position also suits a college student with experience looking for a part-time job. The pay is $10 an hour.
If this sounds like a good job to you, please reply to rebecharv@aol.com or call 800-4964.
Office Manager Wanted
Our company is looking for a full-time experienced manager to run the business. Strong skills in organization and business management are required for this position. The office manager will be responsible for keeping financial (财务的) records, so he or she should be familiar with computers.
Please reply to jim@californiaaquatics.com or call 800-6978 to apply.
Waiter/ Waitress Wanted
A restaurant is looking for an experienced waiter / waitress. Knowledge of wines and experience in dining are necessary. Must work well under pressure and understand the basics (基本要素) of fine dining and customer service.
If you’re interested, please contact us at job-tkupe-1329358152@craigslist.org to apply.
This is a part-time job.
Office Cleaner Wanted
Looking for a Part-time job? A position in the Mississauga area needs an office cleaner! Part-time 4 hours a day from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Duties include:
●Cleaning the washrooms
●Cleaning the furniture
●Sweeping the floors
●Other general cleaning experience is necessary. Pay: $15 per hour
Reply to:job-p3b7u-1365632206@craigslist.org or call 800-8197.
1.Which of the following position is a full-time job?
A. Babysitter. B. Waiter / waitress.
C. Office manager. D. Office cleaner.
2.If a college girl with some experience caring for children wants to apply for a job, where should she send an email?
A. job-p3b7u-1365632206@craigslist.org
B. rebecharv@aol.com
C. jim@californiaaquatics.com
D. job-tkupe-1329358152@craigslist.org
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A. The office cleaner has to work three hours each day.
B. One can apply for a waiter or waitress by telephone.
C. Experience is necessary for all these four jobs.
D. A babysitter earns $5 more than an office cleaner per hour.
4.Which of the following is necessary for a waiter / waitress?
A. Being familiar with computers.
B. Working well with others.
C. Knowing more about menus.
D. Having knowledge of wines.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Speed-reading is a necessary skill in the Internet age. We skim over articles, e-mails and We Chat to try to grasp key words and the essential meaning of a certain text. Surrounded with information from our electronic devices, it would be impossible to cope if we read word by word, line by line. But a new trend calls on people to unplug and enjoy reading slowly, listing benefits beyond the intelligent stimulation.
A recent story from The Wall Street Journal reported on a book club in Wellington, New Zealand, where members meet in a cafe and turn off their smart phones. They sink into comfortable chairs and read in silence for an hour. Unlike traditional book clubs, the point of the slow reading club isn't exchanging ideas about a certain book, but to get away from electronic devices and read in a quiet, relaxed environment. According to the Journal, the Wellington book club is just one example of a movement started by book lovers who miss the old-fashioned way of reading before the Internet and smart phones.
Slow readers, such as The Atlantic's Maura Kelly, say a regular reading habit sharpens the mind, improves concentration, reduces stress levels and deepens the ability to sympathize(共鸣，同感). Another study published last year in Science showed that reading novels helps people understand other's mental states and beliefs, a fundamental skill in building relationships. Yet technology has made us less attentive readers. Screens have changed our reading patterns from the straight and information left-to-right sequence to a wild skimming and skipping pattern as we hunt for important words and information. Reading text punctuated(加标点符号)with links leads to weaker comprehension than reading plain text. The Internet may have made us stupider, says Patrick Kingsley from The Guardian. Because of the Internet, he says, we have become very good at collecting a wide range of interesting news, but we are also gradually forgetting how to sit back, reflect, and relate all these facts to each other.
Slow reading means a return to an uninterrupted, straight pattern, in a quiet environment free of distractions. Aim for 30 minutes a day, advises Kelly from The Atlantic. “You can squeeze in that half hour pretty easily if only during your free moments, you pick up a meaningful work of literature,” Kelly said. “Reach for your e-reader, if you like．Kindles make books like War and Peace less heavy, not less substantive, and also ensure you'll never lose your place.”
1. According to Patrick Kingsley, people are stupider partly because of_____________.
A. the straight, left-to-right screen
B. the lack of reflection
C. wide range of interesting news
D. a non-stop reading pattern
2.According to the passage, slow reading___________.
A. contributes to understanding among people
B. promotes the current technology advances
C. provides people with a quiet environment
D. cures the memory loss of elderly people
3.What's the best title for the passage?
A. Benefit of Reading Clubs
B. Reading of the Internet Age
C. Return of Slow Reading
D. Influence of Speed Reading
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。
The Benefits of Keeping a Journal
If you want to grow, one important thing you should do is keeping a journal. It may seem simple, but it can make a big difference in your life. I have been keeping journals for years. Writing all the lessons I learn and all the ideas I get has become a habit for me. 1. Here are some benefits you will get by keeping a journal.
◆ It prevents you from losing an idea. Have you ever gotten an idea only to lose it later because you didn’t write it down? I often experienced that myself. But then I developed the habit of writing down every idea that came into my mind as soon as possible. 2. I will then transfer the idea to the journal in my computer.
◆ 3. By reviewing your journal, you can quickly see the lessons you’ve learned and the ideas you’ve gotten. Then you can do whatever necessary to avoid repeating the same mistakes. You can use the ideas to propel (鞭策) yourself forward.
◆It allows you to see your progress over time. After keeping a journal for years, you can look back at it and see how far you’ve gone. 4. . The raw ideas you had in the past might have been realized today.
◆ It helps you expand your ideas. When you try to come up with a sentence to express an idea, you are thinking actively about it. 5. In the end, you will expand your ideas.
A. If I’m away from my computer, I usually write it down on a piece of paper that I bring wherever I go.
B. It trains you to express your thoughts.
C. Just use whatever tool you feel comfortable with.
D. Things that were big problems in the past might seem small today.
E. And to be honest, I can’t imagine what my life would be like without it.
F. Thinking actively helps you connect your idea to another idea.
G. It helps you review all the lessons you’ve learned.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
完形填空，阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Mr. Jackson was blind from birth. He owned a fruit ____ on a very busy street. ____he was visually disabled, he ran his business pretty handsomely. He could see nothing and he could only ____ the things within his reach. ____, he was able to handle it and was content with everything he had.
One day his son came to him. He told Mr. Jackson in ____ that he read in the newspaper of a __46__ who could operate on his eyes and allow him to see. The father and the son traveled to the doctor and paid for the ____.
After the operation, the doctor asked Mr. Jackson, “What is the first thing you are ____ to see when I take the bandages off?” He replied, “I really want to see my beautiful ____ on my stand!”
The doctor and the son ____Mr. Jackson down to the busy street where his fruit stand had been located for so many years. The doctor ____ unwrapped the bandages ____ he could lay his eyes on the beautiful fruit! Mr. Jackson was so full of ____ that he could finally see his life’s work—taking care of his fruit! After a few hours of ____ his beautiful fruit stand, he looked down the street both ways and saw there were quite a few fruit stands in both directions. He looked ____ the street and saw many other fruit stands. He spent so much time looking at other people’s fruit stands and ____ the competition that soon his own business ____.
From Mr. Jackson’s failure, we should know that everyone is a ___ individual with different fingerprints, DNA and thinking. What we need to do is just be ourselves and ____everyone else to be who they are. Mind our own business and we should never be afraid of ____.
1.A. company B. stand C. store D. centre
2.A. Because B. as C. When D. Although
3.A. feel B. remember C. observe D. describe
4.A. However B. Therefore C. Otherwise D. Besides
5.A. pride B. doubt C. surprise D. excitement
6.A. nurse B. doctor C. chemist D. surprise
7.A. operation B. information C. medicine D. service
8.A. nervous B. lucky C. afraid D. eager
9.A. flowers B. fruit C. vegetable D. clothing
10.A. sent B. followed C. accompanied D. invited
11.A. carefully B. suddenly C. curiously D. firmly
12.A. in case B. so that C. even if D. if only
13.A. regret B. courage C. joy D. relief
14.A. selling B. judging C. enjoying D. making
15.A. above B. across C. within D. through
16.A. preparing for B. focusing on C. taking up D. worrying about
17.A. improved B. appeared C. expanded D. failed
18.A. unique B. reliable C. perfect D. simple
19.A. force B. require C. allow D. persuade
20.A. change B. difference C. competition D. disability
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
语法填空
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
One day a young man was walking along the road 1. he heard a cry. It seemed to be coming from underneath a bridge. As he approached the bridge, the sound got 2. (loud) and then he saw 3. pitiful sight. There, lying in the muddy riverbed was a little dog about two months old, 4. front legs were tightly tied with ropes. It had wounds on its head and 5. (cover) with mud.
The young man wanted to help the dog, 6. as he approached, the dog started to bark. The young man did not give up. He sat down and started 7. (gentle) talking to the dog. It took a long time but eventually the dog 8. (stop) barking and the man was able to touch it. The young man carried the dog home, cared for its wounds, and gave it food and water. Even with all of this, the dog was still 9. (friend) every time the young man approached. But the young man did not give up. Weeks went by and the man continued attending to the dog. Then one day, as the young man approached, the dog wagged its tail.
It was consistent love and kindness 10._won a lifelong friendship of loyalty.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
There is good news for you. Anyone visited Beijing will soon be able to visit the Forbidden City at night. The Palace Museum plans to extend their opening hours to make it more conveniently for tourists. Parts of the museum will stay open until night to allow more people experience China’s traditional culture before working hours. In addition, visitors will have an access to more area soon after the renovation (修缮) work is completed this year. Near 65% of the Palace Museum will then be open to visitors to mark the 90th anniversary of the museum. The Forbidden City, that was built at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, had undergone extensive (大量的) renovations over the past 10 years.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
书面表达
假如你是李华，校学生会主席，得知著名英国教授Matrix在你校参加英语教师培训会（2016年3月28日—3月30日），特邀请Matrix在开会期间给你校学生做一个关于英语写作的讲座。
请按下列要点写一封邀请信：
1. 本人简介；
2. 讲座内容；
3. 表示感谢。
注意：1. 词数：100左右。
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
3. 参考词汇：学生会 the Students’ Union
培训会 training conference
Dear Professor Matrix,
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
难度: 中等查看答案及解析