Once upon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the sea to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down at the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought that someone would dance on the beach. So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn’t dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean. As he got closer, he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?’’
The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfishes（海星）in the ocean.”
“I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfishes in the ocean?”
“The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don’t throw them in, they’ll die”
“But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfishes all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!”
The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, and said, “It made a difference for that one.” There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can know that gift, we will gain through the strength of our vision of the power （力量） to shape the future.
We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our starfish wisely and well, the world will be better.
1.One day, the wise man saw a young man _______.
A.dancing along the beach
B.walking with a dancer
C.picking up starfish for sale
D.trying to save as many starfishes as possible
2.The underlined words “something very special” refers to ________.
A.the gifts from friends B.the strength of making decision
C.our own starfish D.the ability to make a difference
3.From the last two paragraphs, we can learn that ________.
A.the wise man realized something new and important
B.the wise man thought it was foolish of the young man to throw starfishes in the ocean.
C.the young man had the ability to make a difference
D.it is necessary for us to save starfish on the beach
4.The writer told this story to show us _____.
A.how and where we can write a good article
B.everyone can do something for the future
C.wise men are sometimes stupid
D.young men are in fact wiser than old people
Last week my youngest son and I visited my father at his new home in Tucson, Arizona. He moved there a few years ago, and I was eager to see his new place and meet his friends.
My earliest memories of my father are a tall, handsome, successful man devoted to his work and his family, but uncomfortable with his children. As a child I loved him. He seemed unhappy with me unless I got straight A’s and unhappy with my boyfriends if their fathers were not as “successful” as he was. Whenever I went out with him on weekends, I used to struggle to think up things to say, feeling on guard.
On the first day of my visit, we went out with one of my father’s friends for lunch at an outdoor café. We talked along that afternoon, did some shopping, ate on the street table, and laughed over my son’s funny facial expressions. Gone was my father’s critical (挑剔的) air and strict rules. Who was this person I knew as my father, who seemed so friendly and interesting to be around? What had held him back before?
The next day dad pulled out his childhood pictures and told me quite a few stories about his own childhood. Although our times together became easier over the years, I never felt closer to him at that moment. After so many years, I’m at last seeing another side of my father. And in so doing, I’m delighted with my new friend. My dad, in his new home in Arizona, is back to me from where he was.
61. Why did the author feel bitter about her father as a young adult?
A. He was silent most of the time.
B. He was too proud of himself.
C. He did not love his children.
D. He expected too much of her.
62. When the author went out with her father on weekends, she would feel .
A. nervous B. sorry C. tired D. safe
63. What does the author think of her father after her visit to Tucson?
A. More critical.B. More talkative
C. Gentle and friendly.D. Strict and hard-working.
64. The underlined words “my new friend” in the last paragraph refer to .
A. the author’s sonB. the author’s father
C. the friend of the author’s father D. the café owner
Language is a major problem for the European Union(EU)．The agreement or treaty (条约) which created the organization that eventually became the EU, the Treaty of Rome，stated that each country’s language must be treated equally．The original six countries had only three languages between them：French, German and Dutch . However, there are now 15 countries in the EU, with a total of 12 languages. EU documents must be translated into all these languages，and at official meetings, the speeches must be translated into all the languages by interpreters.
All this translating is very expensive and time consuming . It is sa
id that nearly half of all employees of the EU are engaged in translating documents and speeches, and nearly half of the EU’s administrative (管理方面的) costs are spent on this task．In the near future it is probable that several more countries, most of them having their own languages, will join the EU, thus making the situation even worse.
The problem is not just cost：there are practical difficulties as well. With 12 languages，there are 132 possible “translation situat
ions” that might be needed．It is often difficult to find people in the right place at the right time who can translate from (for example) Danish into Greek, or Dutch into Portuguese, at a high professional standard.
In practice, the problem has been made less severe by the use of English in many contacts between EU officials，since almost all of them speak some English. However, any action to reduce the number of official languages (perhaps to four or five) would be a blow to the pride of the smaller countries. Another commonly suggested solution is to make English the official language for all EU business. However, this is strongly resisted by powerful member countries like France and Germany. What’s the main purpose of this passage?
| A．To give a solution to a problem． |
| B．To find out a problem and show how severe it is |
C．To criticize the European Union for inefficiency． |
| D．To show that the problem cannot be solved． |
According to the writer，the use of English in contacts among EU officials has _________.
| A．angered the officials who don’t speak English |
| B．increased the number of official languages |
| C．reduced the effect of the problem |
| D．been supported by powerful member countries |
The writer mentions “Danish into Greek” as an example of ________.
| A．a situation that might be difficult to deal with |
| B．a situation that occurs at times |
| C．one of the 12 situations that requires an interpreter |
| D．languages easily being interpreted |
The writer suggests that if the number of offici
al languages were reduced, ________
| A．the EU would not know which official languages to choose |
| B．countries whose languages were not used officially would be unhappy |
C．only easy languages would be us ed officially |
| D．the smaller member countries would be pleased |
“Wanted by the FBI.” To the murderer, or the bank robber, these are the most frightening words in the world. When the criminal hears them，he knows that six thousand trained persons are after him.
Why should he be so afraid? There are thousands of cities and villages where he can hide，and forests and deserts, as well. Besides, he’s usually rich with stolen money.
Money can make it easier to hide. With money, the criminal can even pay a doctor to operate on his face and make him hard to recognize. But the criminals know that as public enemies, they can be found by the FBI no matter where they hide.
They know every trick the criminal knows and many more. If he makes just one mistake，they’ll get him. That’s why the man who is wanted can’t sleep. That’s why he becomes nervous, why he jumps at every sound.
The FBI began on May 10th, 1924. General Harlan Stone chose Edgar Hoover, a young lawyer, to head the new agency . “What we need is a wholly new kind of police force,” he said. “Criminals today are smart．They use stolen cars and even planes to make their gateways. They have learned to open any lock，using advanced technology. We can’t beat them with old methods. We have to train officers to work scientifically.”
Edgar Hoover quietly went ahead with his plans. He picked his men carefully. They had to be between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five. He wanted only men with good manners and good character. When working as his officers, they would have to meet all kinds of people. Hoover wanted men who could handle a teacup as well as a gun. But the FBI cannot help in every police problem. It can look into only certain crimes against the government. Solving all other crimes is the duty of local police forces．A man wanted by the FBI will find that money is ________.
| A．not at all useful | B．very helpful for a while |
| C．necessary for his crime | D．everything for him |
Before he worked with the FBI，Edgar Hoover was a ____________.
| A．policeman | B．lawyer | C．teacher | D．general |
The FBI was begun in order to ____.
| A．reduce crimes | B．bring younger men into police work |
| C．fight crimes scientifically | D．offer jobs |
A man who can “handle a teacup as well as a gun” has both ____________.
| A．courage and manners | B．strength and kindness |
| C．wisdom and energy | D．ability and humor |
President Barack Obama's speeches are proving a best-seller in Japan -- as an aid to learning English. An English-language textbook, "The Speeches of Barack Obama," has sold more than 400,000 copies in two months, a big hit in a country where few hit novels sell more than a million copies a year.
Japanese have a fervor for learning English and many bookstores have a corner dedicated (专门用于) to dozens of journals in the language, many of them now featuring the new U.S. leader's face.
"Speeches by presidents and presidential candidates(候选人) are excellent as listening tools to learn English. Obama's are especially so. His speeches are so moving, and he also uses words such as 'yes, we can,' 'change' and 'hope' that even Japanese people can memorize," said Yuzo Yamamoto of Asahi Press, which produced the best-selling text book.
Speeches by George W. Bush and former nominee(提名) John Kerry's four years ago did not have the same interest, however, and nor do those made by Japanese politicians. “We have to turn to a foreign president for someone in whom to place our hopes”, Yamamoto said.
The 95-page paperback features Obama's speeches in English from the 2004 Democratic National Convention and during the Democratic Party primaries(初选), in which he defeated Hillary Clinton. They are accompanied by Japanese translations.
The 1,050 yen ($12) book, which includes a CD of the speeches, tops the bestseller list on bookseller Amazon's Japanese Website, http://www.amazon.co.jp/. He said lawmakers from Japan's main opposition Democratic Party had bought the book to study Obama's speeches.
Following Obama's inauguration(就职典礼), Asahi Press plans to issue a sequel(续集) that includes his inaugural address, as well as President John F. Kennedy's 1961 inaugural speech. It will also feature a reading of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address of 1863.
64. Speeches by presidents and presidential candidates are excellent as listening tools to learn English because ________.the speakers are all great
B. the speakers have high speech skills
C. the language is full of humor
D. the contents are good and the words are easy to catchWhy do Japanese place their hopes in a foreign president?
| A．Because they don’t have politicians who have such a positive influence. |
| B．Because they have the same attitude as the foreign presidents. |
| C．Because they have never made a political speech. |
| D．Because they hope to have a foreigner as their leader. |
Which is true about “The Speeches of Barack Obama”?
A. It contains all Obama’s speeches .
B. It has 1,050 pages with a CD.
C. It includes his inaugural address.
D. It is an especially popular book in Japan.Which of the following can best describe the main idea of the passage?
| A．Japan speaks highly of Obama president . |
| B．Japan learns English from Obama speeches textbook . |
| C．Obama gains his fame from his election speeches. |
| D．Obama gives Japanese speeches on how to learn English. |
It is important that you make a good impression at work. If you make a good impression on your boss, he or she is more likely to give you more responsibilities which can lead to promotions and raises. Here are some ways to make a good impression at work.
Use Proper Office Etiquette
(礼仪)
Using proper manners will help you make a good impression on your boss and also your co-workers. Office etiquette includes everything from the proper way to use e-mails to knowing when, where, and how to use your cellphone at work
Face Up to Your Mistakes
When you make a mistake at work, which everyone inevitably (不可避免地) does at some point, face up to it. Don’t ignore your mistake or blame others. Take the responsibility and come up with a solution to your mistake. Your boss may not be happy about it, but he or she will at least be impressed with your response.
Know to Call in Sick
Do you think coming to work when you are sick instead of staying at home will impress your boss? Reasonable bosses know that the sick employee not only is unproductive but also he or she can spread an illness around the office. Call in sick when you are ill.
Come through in a Crisis
When the unexpected thing happens at work, who will make a better impression on the boss? Of course it’s the employee who deals with the crisis quickly and effectively.What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．How to Use Good Etiquette |
| B．How to Deal with Mistakes at Work |
| C．How to Be a Good Worker in the Future |
| D．How to Make a Good Impression at Work |
What should you do if you make a mistake at work?
| A．Try to ignore the mistake. |
| B．Put the blame on others. |
| C．Think out a solution to your mistake. |
| D．Leave the company as soon as possible. |
According to the writer, when you are ill you’d better _______.
| A．go to work on time as usual |
| B．stay at home without telling others |
| C．go on working but stay away from others |
| D．stop working and ask for a leave |
Who will make good impressions on the boss?
| A．Employees who deal with the crisis quickly and effectively. |
| B．Employees who often make mistakes. |
| C．Employees who go to work though they are ill. |
| D．Employees who often use their cellphones at work |