Two of the saddest words in the English language are “if only”. I live my life with the goal of never having to say those words, because they convey regret, lost opportunities, mistakes, and disappointment.
My father is famous in our family for saying, “Take the extra minute to do it right.” I always try to live by the “extra minute” rule. When my children were young and likely to cause accidents, I always thought about what I could do to avoid an “if only” moment, whether it was something minor like moving a cup full of hot coffee away from the edge of a computer, or something that required a little more work such as taping padding (衬垫) onto the sharp corners of a glass coffee table.
I don’t only avoid those “if only” moments when it comes to safety. It’s equally important to avoid “if only” in our personal relationships . We all know people who lost a loved one and regretted that they had foregone an opportunity to say “I love you” or “I forgive you”. When my father announced he was going to the eye doctor across from my office on Good Friday, I told him that it was a holiday for my company and I wouldn’t be there. But then I thought about the fact that he’s 84 years old and I realized that I shouldn’t give up an opportunity to see him. I called him and told him I had decided to go to work on my day off after all.
I know there will still be occasions when I have to say “if only” about something, but my life is definitely better because of my policy of doing everything possible to avoid that eventuality（可能发生的事）. And even though it takes an extra minute to do something right, or it occasionally takes an hour or two in my busy schedule to make a personal connection, I know that I’m doing the right thing. I’m buying myself peace of mind and that’s the best kind of insurance for my emotional well-being.
1.Which of the following is an example of the “extra minute” rule?
A. Start the car the moment everyone is seated.
B. Leave the room for a minute with the iron working .
C. Wait for an extra minute so that the steak tastes better.
D. Move an object out of the way before it trips someone.
2.The author decided to go to her office on Good Friday to ________.
A. keep her appointment with the eye doctor
B. meet her father who was already an old man
C. join in the holiday celebration of the company
D. finish her work before the deadline approaching
3.The underlined word “foregone” in Paragraph 3 is closed in meaning to “________”.
A. abandoned B. lacked C. avoided D. wasted
4.What is the best title for the passage ?
A. The Emotional Well-being B. The Two Saddest Words
C. The Most Useful Rule D. The Peace of Mind
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
No one can deny that buttons are an important clothing device. But, can they rise to the level of art? Organizers of an exhibit in New York think so.
Peter Souleo Wright organized “The Button Show” at Rush Arts Gallery in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Eleven artists used the small, ordinary objects to create sculptures, portraits and wearable art. Some of the works are political, some are personal and others are just fun.
Wright said each artist reimagines and repurposes the buttons to make art. “What I tried to do with this show,” he said , “was to look at artists who were promoting that level of craft.”
He said he wanted the button art to be comparable to a painting “because of the amount of detail and precision in the work”.
Artist Beau McCall produced “A Harlem Hangover”. It looks like a wine bottle that fell over on a table. A stream of connected red buttons hang over the side, like wine flowing down. Similar red buttons form a small pool on the floor.
McCall layers buttons of different shapes and sizes to create the bottle. The stitching that holds them together is also part of the artistic design.
For San Francisco-based artist Lisa Kokin, buttons are highly personal. After her father died in 2001, she created a portrait of him using only buttons. That memorial to her father led to other button portraits, including those of activists Rosa Parks and Cesar Chavez.
Others use buttons for details. Artist Amalia Amaki of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, placed them on and around old photographs. Los Angeles artist Camilla Taylor attached buttons to three large sculptures that look like headless animals with long , narrow legs.
“The Button Show” ends at March 12. The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation paid for the exhibition. The foundation was created in 1995 by the Simmons brothers: artist Danny, hip-hop producer Russell and rapper Rev. Run. The foundation seeks to bring the artists to urban youth and to provide support for new artists.
1.Why did Wright organize “The Button Show”?
A. To show the importance of buttons.
B. To support the new artists.
C. To raise the button show to the level of art.
D. To create sculptures and portraits.
2.Whose works are personal?
A. Peter Souleo Wright. B. Beau McCall.
C. Lisa Kokin. D. Amalia Amaki.
3.If you want to see “The Button Show”, you should ________.
A. buy tickets before March 12
B. phone Peter Souleo Wright before March 12
C. go to Rush Arts Gallery
D. go to the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundationn
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
There’s a whole lot of things that people fill their stomachs with. Some of them keep people alive. Some of them taste good to people. Some of them help people win pie-eating contests. Alcohol does none of these things. Why do people keep drinking it? And what does it do once it gets to their stomachs?
There are all kinds of alcohol molecules (分子), but the one that people most often pour down their throat is ethanol (乙醇). Ethanol is very tiny and it dissolves in water, so it gets into all sorts of places that it’s not supposed to. Alcohol heads for the digestive system. Because it dissolves in water, it can get into the water in the bloodstream. Because ethanol, to a certain extent, can pass through cell membranes(膜). It can go almost anywhere. It spreads through the muscles, and is sweated — unmetabolized(未经新陈代谢的) and whole — through the skin. It gets into the heart. It even takes a walk through the brain, and this is the secret of its powers.
Alcohol depresses the nerves, and the nerves affect almost every area of the body. Enough alcohol makes people sleep, so people who become unconscious choke on their own vomit (呕吐物). Most worryingly, enough alcohol can shut down those parts of the brain just like any other parts. People become unconscious and their brains simply forget to breathe.
Alcohol is broken down in the liver. Alcohol doesn’t destroy the liver, but products that the liver breaks the alcohol into do cause damage. A glass of wine per day can not do any harm. Instead, it can prevent heart attacks or can make someone functionally young. And it is kind of nice to know that sometimes, relaxation and cheer can be bottled. All that’s needed is to take care how much alcohol is let into a person’s brain.
1.How does the author introduce the topic of the text?
A. By statement. B. By question.
C. By arguing. D. By explaining.
2.Why can alcohol reach the brain?
A. Because it can move through water molecules in the blood.
B. Because it is small enough to get through any narrow space.
C. Because it is so light that the bloodstream can transport.
D. Because it is absorbed only by the cells in the stomach.
3.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3?
A. Alcohol affects the work of the nerves.
B. Alcohol has an effect on people’s breath .
C. People are drunk when their brains get drunk.
D. Drinking too much is quite dangerous.
4.From the passage, we can know ________.
A. many people like a drink when they feel relaxed
B. enough alcohol can control the brain activities
C. alcohol damages the liver indirectly
D. proper alcohol may lead to better sleep
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
About a quarter of the world drives on the left, and the countries that do are mostly old British colonies (殖民地) like Australia , and Ireland. But Thailand, Indonesia and Japan also do so.
This strange quirk (奇事) puzzles the rest of the world; however, there is a perfectly good reason . Up to the late 1700’s , everybody travelled on the left side of the road because it’s the most sensible option for feudal (封建的), violent societies with mostly right-handed people. Soldiers with their swords under their right arm naturally passed on each other’s right, and if you passed a stranger on the road, you walked on the left to ensure that your protective sword arm was between yourself and him.
Revolutionary France, however, overturned this practice as part of its sweeping social rethink. A change was carried out all over continental Europe by Napoleon. It changed under Napoleon because he was left-handed. His armies had to march on the right so he could keep his sword arm between him and any opponent. From then on, any part of colonized by the French travelled on the right.
After the American Revolutionary War (1775—1783), the US became independent and decided to make traffic drive on the right in order to cast off all remaining links with its British colonial past. As America became the center of the car industry, if you wanted a good reliable vehicle, you bought American right-hand-drive cars. From then on, many countries changed out of necessity.
Today, the EU would like Britain to fall into line with the rest of Europe, but this is no longer possible. It would cost billions of pounds to change everything round. The last European country to change driving on the right was Sweden in 1967. While everyone was getting used to the new system, they paid more attention and took more care, resulting in a reduction of the number of road accidents.
1.Why did people travel on the left before the late 18th century ?
A. They were required to do so.
B. They were mostly left-handed.
C. It was easier to cross the street.
D. They could feel safer from attacks.
2.What was Napoleon’s attitude to walking on the left?
A. Support. B. Disapproval. C. Doubt. D. Sympathy.
3.For Americans, driving on the right was a way to show ________.
A. the connection with France was broken
B. the US was no longer ruled by the UK
C. the American Revolution War had ended
D. America was the center of the car industry
4.What is the main cause of the UK failing to adopt the new system?
A. Its high costs to change.
B. Its increasing traffic accidents.
C. Its influence on colonies.
D. Its fast-developing car industry.
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可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Home on the Way
People need homes. Children assume their parents’ place as home; boarders call school “home” on weekdays; married couples work together to build new homes … But travelers have no place to call “home”, at least for a few nights. 1. Don’t they have the right to a home? Of course they do.
Some regular travelers take their own belongings like bed sheets, pillowcases and family photos to make them have the feel of home no matter where they are; some stay for long periods in the same hotel and as a result become very familiar with its service and attendants; 2. Furthermore, driving a camping car during one’s travels and sleeping in the vehicle at night are just like home — only mobile!
And how about keeping relationships while in transit? 3. Some send letters and postcards, or even photos; others may just call and say hi, just to let their friends know that they’re still alive and well. People find ways to keep in touch. Making friends on the way helps travelers feel more or less at home. 4.
Nowadays, fewer people are working in their local towns, so how do they develop a sense of belonging? Whenever we step out of our local boundaries, there is always another “home” waiting to be found. 5.
A. Hostels provide a clean safe place to stay while you are traveling around the world.
B. others may simply put some flowers by the hotel window to make it more homely.
C. Backpackers in youth hostel may become very good friends, even closer than siblings (手足).
D. So how about people who have to travel for extended periods of time?
E. No matter where you go in the world , hotels are there, too.
F. Some keep contact with their friends via the Internet.
G. Wherever we are, with just a little bit of effort and imagination we can make the place we stay in “home”.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
完形填空
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Washoe is a young chimpanzee. She is no ________ chimpanzee, though. Scientists are doing a research ________ her. They want to see how civilized (驯化) she can ________. Already she does many things a human being can do.
For example, she has been learning how to exchange ________ with people. The scientists are teaching her ________ language. When she wants to be picked ________, Washoe points up with one finger. She rubs her teeth with her finger ________ she wants to brush her teeth. This is done after every meal.
Washoe has also been ________ to think out and find answers to problems. Once she was put in a ________ with food hanging from the ceiling. It was too high to ________. After she considered the ________, she got a tall box to stand ________. The food was still too high to be reached. Washoe found a ________ pole. Then she climbed onto the ________, grasped the pole, and ________ down the food with the pole. Washoe ________ like a human, too. The scientists keep her in a fully furnished house. After a hard ________ in the laboratory, she goes home. ________ she plays with her toys. She ________ enjoys watching television before going to bed. Scientists hope to ________ more about people by studying our closest relative — chimpanzee.
1.A. foolish B. ordinary C. special D. simple
2.A. for B. by C. to D. on
3.A. experience B. change C. develop D. become
4.A. actions B. views C. messages D. feelings
5.A. sign B. human C. spoken D. foreign
6.A. out B. at C. on D. up
7.A. when B. until C. since D. while
8.A. raised B. trained C. ordered D. led
9.A. cave B. zoo C. room D. museum
10.A. pull B. see C. eat D. reach
11.A. problem B. position C. food D. ceiling
12.A. by B. on C. up D. with
13.A. straight B. strong C. long D. big
14.A. wall B. box C. ceiling D. pole
15.A. knocked B. picked C. took D. shook
16.A. lives B. acts C. thinks D. plays
17.A. task B. lesson C. day D. time
18.A. Here B. There C. So D. Then
19.A. quite B. already C. even D. still
20.A. observe B. discover C. gain D. learn
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。
Hundreds of beautifully decorated dragon boats are taken to river1.__________(celebrate) the memory of the great poet Qu Yuan. In rivers across the country, dragon races2.___ ____(hold) on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. The festival is also a time to eat Zongzi, 3.______ traditional dish of rice and fruit4._________(wrap) in bamboo leaves. According 5._______the story of Qu Yuan, people would throw Zongzi into the water so that the fish6._________(eat) the rice instead of the poet. The festival is also celebrated to protect people from bad luck and 7.________(ill). Healthy herbs are sometimes hung on the front door and nutritious drinks are prepared. Some people believe that 8.______ an egg is balanced on its end at 9._______(exact) 12:00 noon, it means that the 10.______(come) year will be good.
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(∧)，在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下面划一横线，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一词；
2、只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
I used to be so addicted to computer games that I had little time for study and thus fall behind. My parents and teachers were greatly worried about myself. It was my English teacher’s encouragement which helped me out. She told me that I must have my own goal of life, otherwise my future would be hopeless. She reminded of me that playing computer games was great fun and it wouldn’t guarantee me a bright future. I finally realized that I must set up a goal and work hardly towards it right away. In the days that followed, whenever I felt tired or had a urge to play computer games, I thought of my goal and soon regained strength.
With the saying goes, a life without a goal is a life without hope. Bear my life goal in mind, I always full of energy in my study.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
书面表达
某中学英文报正举办“The Season I Like Best”的征文活动，请用英文写一篇短文投稿，内容应包括：
1. 你最喜欢的季节；
2. 你喜欢该季节的两条理由（如：气候、景色、活动、感受……）.
注意： 1. 词数100左右；
2. 题目已为你写好；
3. 行文连贯，语篇完整；
4. 文中不得透露个人真实信息。
难度: 中等查看答案及解析