It is well known that the Japanese people’s love of fish is almost as a bee’s interest in honey. As fish populations were decreasing, fishing companies were forced to fish further and further away from the shore. Then they had a big challenge-how to keep the fish fresh for longer. So they decided to keep the fish stored in freezers on the boats. But the public did not like frozen fish. So again the fishing companies had a new bigger challenge. What they decided to do was to have fish tanks on their boats. After catching fishes, they would put them in the tanks and keep them living there until they got back to shore. But in this protected environment, lacking predators (掠食者),the fish stopped moving around. The Japanese public felt these dull fish did not taste fresh, which had an unpleasant effect upon sales. Once again the fishing companies had an even bigger challenge ...
Stop for a minute! Before we go any further, I would like to ask “What are your challenges? How do you handle an unexpected challenge?” May I think it this way that you should try to attack your challenges? Conquer them with a Swiss Army knife. Take the most proper and simple tool that you can adopt to deal with your situation.
Now back to our story. How did the Japanese finally figure out the fresh fish problem?Sharks! You might think the same. Sharks were caught and put into the tanks with other fishes. Don’t sharks eat fish? Well, they do eat a few fish, but they did also keep more fish active and alert (警觉的) The fish stay fresh because they are challenged.
Now, try to keep yourself fresh by finding your own shark to offer yourself a challenge in your own business and career.
1.The main reason for the fishing company to fish in the far sea is that .
A. the fish resource near the shore was decreasing
B. the fishes farther away from the sea tasted fresher
C. people would prefer eating fresh fishes to less fresh ones
D. it was getting harder and harder to keep fishes fresh
2.The relationship between fishes and sharks is similar to that between in nature.
A. dogs and cats B. monkeys and mosquitoes
C. wolves and antelopes D. children and lions
3.The underlined part of the last paragraph means “ .”
A. If you went fishing, you might do as the fishing companies did
B. Try to find a big shark, and you will meet your challenge
C. To succeed in life, you should always be ready to meet challenges
D. Sharks are usually compared to the challenges in people’s life
4.The purpose for the author to write the passage is to .
A. tell the readers “no pains, no gains”
B. tell the readers how the Japanese keep the fish fresh
C. suggest readers looking for challenges to make progress
D. advise readers to find something difficult to do
The English language is the result of the invasion(入侵) of the island of Britain over many hundreds of years.The first invasions were by a people called Angles about 1, 500 years ago. The Angles were a German tribe who crossed the English Channel(英吉利海峡). Later two more groups crossed to Britain. They were the Saxons and the Jutes. Through many years, the Saxons, Angles and the Jutes mixed their different languages. The result is what is called Anglo-Saxon or old English.
The next great invasion of Britain was done by Vikings about 1, 100 years ago. Many English words used today come from these ancient Vikings.
The next invasion of Britain took place more than 900 years ago, in 1066. History experts call this invasion the Norman Conquest. The Normans were a French-speaking people from Normandy in the north of France. These new rulers(统治者) spoke only French for several hundred years. It was the most important language in the world at that time. It was the language of educated people. But the common people of Britain still spoke old English.
Old English took many words from the Norman French. Some of these include “damage”, “prison”, and “marriage”. The French language used by the Norman rulers greatly changed the way English was spoken 800 years ago. English became what language experts call Middle English. Middle English sounds like Modern English. But it is difficult to understand now. The history of the English language continues as Middle English becomes Modern English, which is spoken today.Who was the first invaders(入侵者) of Britain?
A.The Angles. | B.The Saxons. |
C.The Jutes. | D.The Normans. |
How many groups of invaders are mentioned in the passage?
A.Three. | B.Four. |
C.Five. | D.Six. |
Which of the following is TURE about Middle English?
A.It sounds like Old English. |
B.It’s quite different from Modern English. |
C.Few people understand it now. |
D.It stopped developing. |
During the rule of the Normans, the language people spoke showed their ______.
A.races (种族) | B.social positions |
C.ability | D.names |
What is mainly discussed in this passage?
A.The historical invasions of Britain. |
B.Other languages that have influenced English. |
C.The origin (起源) and development of English. |
D.Old English and Modern English. |
When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings(缺点). Week by week her list grew: I was very thin, I wasn’t a good student, I talked too much, I was too proud, and so on. I tried to hear all this as long as I could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me quietly, then he asked, “Are the things she says true or not? Janet, didn’t you ever wonder what you’re really like? Well, you now have that girl’s opinion. Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said.” I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some of them I couldn’t change (like being very thin), but a good number I could--and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I go to fairly clear picture of myself.
I brought the list back to Daddy. He refused to take it. “That’s just for you,” he said. “You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just close your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of help to you. Our world is full of people who think they know your duty. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you know is the right thing to do.”
Daddy’s advice has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve never had a better piece of advice.What did the father do after he had heard his daughter’s complaint(抱怨)?
A.He told her not to pay any attention to what her “enemy” had said. |
B.He criticized (批评) her and told her to overcome her shortcomings. |
C.He told her to write down all that her “enemy” had said about her and pay attention only tothe things that were true. |
D.He refused to take the list and have a look at it. |
What does “Week by week her list grew” mean?
A.Week by week she discovered more shortcomings of mine and pointed them out to me. |
B.She had made a list of my shortcomings and she kept on adding new ones to it so that it was growing longer and longer. |
C.I was having more and more shortcomings as time went on. |
D.Week by week, my shortcomings grew more serious. |
Why did her father listen to her quietly?
A.Because he believed that what her daughter’s “enemy ”said was mostly true. |
B.Because he had been so angry with his daughter’s shortcomings that he wanted to show this by keeping silent for a while. |
C.Because he knew that his daughter would not listen to him at that moment. |
D.Because he wasn’t quite sure which girl was telling the truth. |
How did the author feel after she did as her father told her?
A.Angry. | B.Disappointed. |
C.Bored. | D.Thankful. |
Which do you think would be the best title for this passage?
A.Not an Enemy, but the Best Friend |
B.The Best Advice I’ve Ever Had |
C.My Father |
D.My Childhood |
For centuries, the body’s blood has been linked closely with the emotions. People who show no human emotions or feelings, are said to be cold-blooded killer. For example, the police are searching for a cold-blooded killer. He seems to kill for no reason, and no emotion, as if taking someone’s life as nothing.
Cold can affect other parts of the body. The expression “get cold feet” has nothing to do with cold or your feet. The expression means being afraid to do something you have decided to do. For example, you agree to be president of an organization. But then you learn that all the other officers have resigned, and all the work of the organization will be your responsibility. You are likely to get cold feet about being president when you understand the situation.
The expression “give someone the cold shoulder” probably comes from the physical act of turning your back toward someone, instead of speaking to him face to face. You may give a cold shoulder to a friend who has not kept a promise he made to you. Or, to someone who has lied about you to others.
A cold fish is not a fish. It is a person. But it is a person who is unfriendly, unemotional and shows no love or warmth. A cold fish does not offer much of himself to anyone. Someone who is a cold fish could be cold-hearted. Now a cold-hearted person is someone who has no sympathy. Several popular songs in recent years were about cold-hearted men or cold-hearted women who, without feelings, broke the hearts of their lovers.
Out in the cold means not getting something that everybody else got. A person might say that everybody but him got a pay raise--he was left out in the cold. And it is not a pleasant place to be.There are _____ expressions related to cold that are mentioned in the passage.
A.3 | B.4 | C.6 | D.7 |
When you refuse to speak to a man and treat him in a distant way, you may express by “_________”.
A.I give him the cold shoulder |
B.I think he is a cold-blooded man |
C.I think he is a cold fish |
D.I’m likely to get cold feet |
If Sue shows absolutely no reaction to those awful pictures of starving children in Africa, you will say _________.
A.she is a cold-blooded killer |
B.she gets cold feet |
C.she is a cold fish |
D.she is out in the cold |
We can use the expression “__________” to describe a man who abandons or hurts his lover without mercy.
A.cold-blooded | B.cold shoulder |
C.cold feet | D.cold-hearted |
The topic of this passage is about _________.
A.the relationship between cold and our body |
B.some expressions about friendship |
C.some expressions connected with cold |
D.how cold weather comes into being |
You choose to be a winner!
The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers. It has been made to help you better manage your money. The Winners Club is a transaction account (交易账户) where you receive a key-card so you can get to your money 24/7–that’s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
It’s a club with impressive features for teenagers:
●No account keeping fees!
You’re no millionaire so we don’t expect you to pay large fees. In fact, there are no account keeping or transaction fees!
●Excellent interest rates!
You want your money to grow. The Winners Club has a good rate of interest which gets even better if you make at least two deposits (储蓄) without taking them out in a month.
●Convenient
Teenagers are busy–we get that. You may never need to come to a bank at all. With the Winners Club you can choose to use handy tellers and to bank from home using the phone and the Internet … You can have money directly deposited into your Winners Club account. This could be your pocket money or your pay from your part–time job!
●Mega magazine included
Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money. There are also fantastic offers and competitions only for Winners Club members.
The Winners Club is a great choice for teenagers. And it is so easy to join. Simply fill in an application form. You will have to get permission from your parent or guardian (so we can organize that cool key–card) but it is easy. We can’t wait to hear from you. It’s the best way to choose to be a winner!The Winners Club is a bank account intended for.
A.parents | B.teenagers |
C.winners | D.adults |
Which of the following is TRUE about the Winners Club?
A.Special gifts are ready for parents. |
B.The bank opens only on work days. |
C.Services are convenient for its members. |
D.Fees are necessary for the account keeping. |
The Winners Club provides magazines which.
A.encourage spending |
B.are free to all teenagers |
C.are full of adventure stories |
D.help to make more of your money |
If you want to be a member of the Club, you must.
A.be an Internet user |
B.be permitted by your parent |
C.have a big sum of money |
D.be in your twenties |
What is the purpose of this text?
A.To set up a club. |
B.To provide part–time jobs. |
C.To organize key–cards. |
D.To introduce a new banking service. |
Everybody has one of those days when everything goes wrong. This is what happened to Harry.
He got up one morning very late because he had forgotten to wind up his alarm clock(闹钟). He tried to shave(刮脸) quickly and cut himself. When he got dressed, he got blood all over his clean shirt, so he had to find another one. The only other shirt that was clean needed ironing(熨), so he ironed it. While he was ironing it, there was a knock at the door. It was the man to read the electricity meter(表). He showed him where the meter was, said good-bye and found that the iron had burnt a hole in his shirt. So he had to wear the one with the blood on it after all. By this time it was very late, so he decided he couldn’t go to work by bus. He telephoned for a taxi to take him to work. The taxi arrived and Harry got in and began to read the newspaper.
In another part of the town, a man had killed a woman with a knife and was seen to run away in a taxi. When Harry’s taxi stopped outside his office, a policeman happened to be standing there. He saw the blood on Harry’s shirt, and took him to the police station. He was kept till 3 o’clock in the afternoon before the police were sure that he was not the man they wanted. When he finally arrived at the office at about four, his boss took a look at him and told him to go away and find another job.Harry had.
A.a lucky day | B.an unlucky day |
C.a busy day | D.a good day |
Put the following sentences into correct order according to the passage.
a. The man who read the electricity meter came.
b. Harry ironed his shirt.
c. Harry got blood all over his clean shirt.
d. There was a knock at the door.
e. Harry wore the shirt with blood on it.
A.a, b, c, d, e | B.b, a, d, c, e |
C.b, a, c, d, e | D.c, b, d, a, e |
Why did Harry wear the shirt with blood on it?
A.The iron had burnt a hole in his clean shirt. |
B.The only other needed ironing. |
C.He had only one shirt. |
D.He cut himself and got blood all over his shirt. |
Harry was taken to the police station because.
A.his taxi stopped outside his office and a policeman happened to be there |
B.there was blood on his shirt and he was in a taxi |
C.a man killed a woman with a knife |
D.the murderer was seen to run away in a taxi |
His boss told him to go away and find another job because.
A.he had been kept by the police |
B.there was blood on his shirt |
C.he was late for work |
D.he had killed a woman |