The latest research suggests that the key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success. Instead, it’s purposeful practice. Top performers spend more hours practising their craft. It you wanted to picture how a typical genius might develop, you’d take a girl who possessed a slightly above average language ability. It wouldn’t have to be a big talent, just enough so that she might gain some sense of distinction. Then you would want her to meet, say, a novelist, who coincidentally shared some similar qualities. Maybe the writer was from the same town, had the same family background, or shared the same birthday.
This contact would give the girl a vision of her future self. It would hive her some idea of a fascinating circle who might someday join. It would also help if one of her parents died when she was 12, giving her a strong sense of insecurity and fuelling a desperate need for success. Armed with this ambition, she would read novels and life stories of writers without end. This would give her a primary knowledge of her field. She’s be able to see new writing in deeper ways and quickly understand its inner workings.
Then she would practise writing. Her practice would be slow, painstaking and error-focused. By practising in this way, he delays the automatizing process. Her mind wants to turn conscious, newly learned skills into unconscious. Automatically performed skills. By practising slowly, by breaking skills down into tiny parts and repeating, she forces the brain to internalize a better pattern of performance. Then she would find an adviser who would provide a constant stream of feedback, viewing her performance form the outside, correcting the smallest errors, pushing her to take on tougher challenges. By now she is redoing problems—how do I get characters into a room—dozens and dozens of times. She is establishing habits of thought she can call upon in order to understand or solve future problems.
The primary quality our young writer possesses is not some mysterious genius. It’s the ability to develop a purposeful, laborious and boring practice routine; the latest research takes some of the magic out of great achievement. But it underlines a fact that is often neglected. Public discussion is affected by genetics and what we’re “hard-wired” to do. And it’s true that genes play a role in our capabilities. But the brain is also very plastic. We construct ourselves through behaviour.The passage mainly deals with________.
A.the function of I.Q. in cultivating a writer |
B.the relationship between genius and success |
C.the decisive factor in making a genius |
D.the way of gaining some sense of distinction |
By reading novels and writers’ stories, the girl could________.
A.come to understand the inner structure of writing |
B.join a fascinating circle of writers someday |
C.share with a novelist her likes and dislikes |
D.learn from the living examples to establish a sense of security |
In the girl’s long painstaking training process, ________.
A.her adviser forms a primary challenging force to her success. |
B.her writing turns into an automatic pattern of performance |
C.she acquires the magic of some great achievement |
D.she comes to realize she is “hard-wired” to write |
What can be concluded from the passage?
A.A fuelling ambition plays a leading role in one’s success |
B.A responsible adviser is more important than the knowledge of writing. |
C.As to the growth of a genius, I.Q. Doesn’t matter, but just his|her effort. |
D.What really matters is what you do rather then who you are. |
If there is one thing that matters in high school-and for your whole life-it is friendships.
My latest novel,THE UNWRITTEN RULE,is about a girl,Sarah,who falls for her best friend Brianna’s boyfriend,Ryan,but it’s more about wrestling with feelings for a guy that you know you shouldn’t have.A lot of the book deals with friendship,the kind of lifelong friendship that means the world to you...and what happens when you realize that maybe it isn’t what you think it is.
Maybe your best friend isn’t your best friend.Maybe she isn’t even a friend at all.
Friendships are tricky things.You can he sure everything is fine,and that your friendship is going to last forever...and it can just end.No explanation,no anything.And it is not easy.In fact,I think losing a friend is worse than losing a boyfriend,especially when it is a friend you’ve had in your life for a long time.
One of the things that Sarah struggles with in THE UNWRITTEN RULE,beyond her feelings for Ryan,is her friendship with Brianna—how long they’ve been friends,how she understands Brianna in a way no one else does,and what to do when a crack appears in their friend ship,not because of Sarah’s feelings for Ryan,but because Sarah begins to wonder if maybe Brianna isn’t her best friend after all.
Having a friendship end is incredibly painful and one of the things I hated when I was younger—and that I still hate now—is how people say.“Oh,it’ll be okay.You’ll move on,you’ll be fine.”
It is true that you will eventually move on and that you will be fine.But you will also always carry that lost friendship with you.It may not take up all of your heart like it does at first,but it will take part of it.
And that,I think,is something no one ever talks about and that I wish we could — and would.
What do you do when someone you are friends with decides your friendship is over? How do you deal with it?
Maybe my latest novel can provide something for you.
47.From the passage we can infer that_____.
A.it may takes Sarah a long time to recover after she lost Brianna’s friendship
B.Sarah and Brianna are still best friends after a long period of time
C.Sarah does not value Brianna’s friendship at all
D.Ryan would feel puzzled about his real love
48.What do you think the book THE UNWRITTEN RULE is mainly about?
A.Friendship. B.School life. C.Love. D.Wrestling with feelings.
49.What’s the writer’s attitude towards friendship?
A.We will all lose some friends in our life.
B.Ending a friendship is worse than losing a boyfriend.
C.It’s usual when a crack appears.
D.You will eventually move on after you lose a friendship.
50.What do you think is the best title for the passage above?
A.My Latest Novel.B.Tricky Friends.
C.Sarah and Brianna. D.Unforgettable Friendship
Here below are two pieces taken from a blog.
▲ Growing up as one of three girls I’ve always been keen on women’s issues.And now with three daughters to raise,I have the responsibility of ensuring that they grow up without any preconceived(预想的) ideas of their capabilities & potential based on their gender.Earlier this year I read an article that indicated that women surpassed men in the workforce for the first time in history.That is a milestone! And while we still don’t have equality in leadership positions or pay (especially if you’re a mom),we have made significant progress over the past couple of decades.All this prompted me to do some digging around to see what else I could learn.Here are some fun facts from the census bureau for you:
●29% of women aged 25 or older had obtained a bachelors degree in 2008 vs.18% in 1987.
●55% of all college students were women in the Fall of 2008.
●60% of women 20 years or older participate in the workforce today vs.34% in 1950.
●14% of the armed forces were women in 2008.compared to 2% in 1950.
▲We’re all looking to stretch the value of our dollar as much as possible.Every day as you juggle the needs of your family,remember to eat right,take your vitamins and keep up with laundry and bills-you probably also look for budget friendly,family appropriate activities.A day trip to a national park is a great way to explore all the wonders of nature,without breaking the bank.Once or twice a month,my wife and I will prepare for a leisurely hike in one of our favorite parks close to home.The night before,she makes some homemade granola and I make sure our reusable water bottles are full and on ice.Next time you’re looking for an inexpensive adventure that your family isn’t soon to forget,take a hike! To find a national park near you,just visit www.nps.gov
43.According to the first blog,_____.
A.the blogger has three sisters
B.there are more women than men at work this year
C.14% of women are working in the army
D.women has got equality in leadership position
44.What is mainly talked about in the first blog?
A.Responsibility. B.Women’s potential. C.Workforce. D.Women’s issues.
45.The underlined words“breaking the bank”in the second blog means_____.
A.robbing the bankB.getting some money from the bank
C.using up the money in the bankD.going to the bank
46.What’s the writer’s suggestion in the second blog?
A.We all have to think about the needs of our family.
B.All the wonders of nature are in the national park.
C.To go hiking once or twice a month will be an inexpensive adventure.
D.Each of us will have to make our budget friendly.
This tour takes you back in history to a moment that“will live in infamy (声名狼藉).”Explore the historic artifacts at the Arizona Memorial Visitor Center commemorating(纪念) the attack on Pearl Harbor,then travel around beautiful Oahu on a Circle Island guided bus tour.
The Arizona Memorial Visitor Center is Hawaii’s number one visitor attraction.View the film of the attack on Pearl Harbor and browse the historic artifacts on display.Then ride the Navy launch across Pearl Harbor to visit the Arizona Memorial.Then,board a tour bus for a scenic trip around the island of Oahu.Get your cameras ready for the beautiful view over Windward Oahu at Nu’uanu Pali Lookout.Visit Byodo-In Temple.which is set against a picturesque mountain backdrop.
You’ll also see the famous North Shore surfing beaches of Sunset,Banzai Pipeline,and Waimea Bay and drive through rustic Haleiwa Town.Visit Dole Plantation and discover the history of Hawaii’s pineapple industry before enjoying a no host lunch at the Polynesian Cultural
Center (lunch is not included in the listed-price).
Inclusions:
Scenic bus tour of Oahu island
Film viewing at Arizona Memorial Visitor Center.Pearl Harbor
Visit of Byodo-In Temple and Dole Plantation
Available:
Mon.—Fri.
Hours of operation:
7 AM to 5 PM
Note:
Strict security measures forbid purses,handbags,fanny packs,backpacks,camera bags,diaper bags,luggage and/or other items.Visitors may bring a camera and cam-recorder.A storage facility,operated by a private vendor,is available for visitors coming to the USS Arizona Memorial,USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park,the Battleship Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum.The facility(象征性的) storage fee.The storage facility is in operation daily 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
39.What is the purpose of the passage above?
A.To introduce the beautiful scene in Oahu.
B.To tell the writer attractions in Hawaii.
C.To attract more tourists.
D.To describe a wonderful tour in Oahu
40.Which of the following is the right order of the tour?
A.The Arizona Memorial,Byodo-In Temple,Nu’uanu Pali Lookout,Polynesian Cultural Center
B.Pearl Habor.Dole Plantation.Nu’uanu Pali Lookout.Sunset Beach
C.Pearl Habor,North Shore,Byodo-In Temple,Dole Plantation
D.The Arizona Memorial,Nu’uanu Pali Lookout,Dole Plantation,Polynesian Cultural Center
41.A tourist will see everything below at Pearl Harbor except_____.
A.the Arizona MemorialB.some historic artifacts
C.a film D.Windward Oahu
42.Which of the persons below will not be allowed to enter the attractions in Pearl Harbor?
A.Alice,a student from LA,comes with her parents,with a Sony digital camera in her hand.
B.Geogre Zhang,from Shanghai,leaves his backpack in a locker outride the entrance.
C.Billy,from Italy,with small bag in hand and inside the bag is a cam-recorder.
D.Hose,from Spain,who has left his luggage in the hotel.
第二部分:阅读理解(共两节,满分40分)
第一节 (共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
BEIJING (AFP) — Archeologists in China have uncovered more than 3,000 dinosaur footprints,state media reported,in an area said to be the world’s largest grouping of fossilized hones belonging to the ancient animals.
The footprints,believed to be more than 100 million years old,were discovered after a three-month excavation(发掘、出土) at a gully in Zhucheng in the eastern province of Shandong,the Xinhua news agency reposed.
The footprints range from 10 to 80 centimeters (4 to 32 inches) in length,and belonged to at least six different kinds of dinosaurs,including tyrannosaurs,the report said Saturday.
Wang Haijun,a senior engineer at the Chinese Academy of Sciences,said the footprints faced the same direction.Xinhua said.
This indicated a possible migration or a panic escape by plant-eating dinosaurs after an attack by predators(食肉动物),Wang added.
Archeologists have found dinosaur fossils at some 30 sites in Zhucheng,known as“dinosaur city.”The region has seen two major digs since 1964,and experts say the discovery of so many dinosaurs in such a dense area could provide clues on how the animals became extinct millions of years ago.
Plans are being made to set up a fossil park in the area.
36.We can infer from the text that_____.
A.most of the footprints are more than 32 centimeters long
B.the footprints found belong to some predators
C.the dinosaurs were running in all directions because of an attack
D.the area is considered to be a perfect tour source
37.Which statement below is true according to the passage above?
A.The number of the footprints found is more than 3000.
B.The dinosaurs may live in an age 10,000,000 years ago.
C.The discovery of fossils may open a new age.
D.Archeologists still wish to find some more fossils.
38.The passage may be picked out from_____.
A.a magazine B.a science book C.a newspaper D.a students’ textbook
Some people don’t believe that driving more slowly can save lives. But the truth is that driving more slowly can help a person to avoid serious accidents.
The following chart shows the distance that it takes to stop a car at a given speed. The distance is measured in feet. The shaded area shows the driver’s thinking distance. That’s the distance it takes for the driver to react to a danger that he sees. The white area shows the car’s braking distance. That’s the distance it takes for the car to stop once the brakes are used. The number at the top of each bar shows the total number of feet that it takes to stop the car
72. According to the chart, what is the total number of feet needed to stop a car that is traveling at 50 miles per hour?
A. 55. B. 73. C. 128. D. 183.
73. What is the braking distance for a car that is traveling at 60 miles per hour?
A. 66 feet. B. 119 feet. C. 185 feet. D. 251 feet.
74. Which of the following statements about braking and speed is TRUE?
A. The braking distance is what it takes for the driver to react to a danger that he sees.
B. The speed of a car has a direct effect on the distance needed to stop the car.
C. The braking distance increases only when a driver drives faster than 50 miles per hour
D. Driving slowly can help a person to avoid all accidents
75. The underlined word probably means _____.
A. equipment for slowing down or stopping B. object that turns around
C. object to control the direction in a car D. large glass window at the front of a vehicle