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Have you ever heard the story of the four-minute mile? Many years ago, people believed that it was impossible for a human being to run a mile in less than four minutes until Roger Banister proved it wrong in1954.
What happens if you put an animal in a pond? Any animal, big or small, will swim its way through. What happens when someone, who does not know how to swim, falls in deep waters? They drown. If an animal who has not learned swimming could escape by swimming, why not you? Because you believe you will drown while the animal does not.
Have you ever wondered why the letters are organized in a particular order on hour keyboard? You might have thought it is to increase the typing speed. Most people never question it. But the fact is that this system was developed to reduce the typing speed at a time when typewriter parts would jam if the operator typed too fast.
These three cases show the power of our beliefs. There is no other more powerful directing force in human behavior than belief. Your beliefs have the power to create and to destroy. A belief delivers a direct command to your nervous system.
I used a snake in my workshops for children to show them how unrealistic some of their beliefs are. Students of a school in India, said snakes were slippery, slimy (黏糊糊的) and poisonous. After doing an exercise for changing beliefs, they handled my snake and found it to be dry and clean. They also remembered that only three types of poisonous snakes exist in India.
Did this story end the way you thought? Review your beliefs now and find out which ones you need to change.
51. In the author’s opinion, if a person in deep water doesn’t know how to swim he will drown because _________.
A. he is afraid of water               B. he doesn’t want to live in the world
C. he hasn’t learned to swim before     D. he believes he will drown
52. The author thinks that the letters are organized in a particular order on your keyboard in order to _________.
A. reduce one’s typing speed          B. satisfy the operator
C. save more space                 D. increase one’s typing speed
53. The author’s experiment shows that __________.
A. snakes in India aren’t poisonous       B. snakes can be caught easily
C. snakes are slimy and poisonous      D. snakes are dry and clean
54. According to the passage, we know that ________.
A. students from India have unrealistic beliefs on how to live a better life
B. an animal who has not learned to swim will drown if you put it in a pond.
C. Roger Banister was the first person who ran a mile in less than four minutes.
D. most people don’t like the order the letters are arranged on your keyboard
55. The main idea of this passage should be that _______.
A. beliefs make us seem stupid
B. beliefs are very powerful
C. changing your beliefs now if necessary
D. people should always believe in themselves

科目 英语   题型 阅读理解   难度 较易
知识点: 故事类阅读
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Franz Kafka wrote that “a book must be the ax (斧子) for the frozen sea inside us.” I once shared this sentence with a class of seventh graders, and it didn't seem to require any explanation.
We'd just finished John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men. When we read the end together out loud in class,my toughest boy,a star basketball player,wept a little, and so did I. “Are you crying?” one girl asked,as she got out of her chair to take a closer look. “I am,” I told her, “and the funny thing is I've read it many times.”
But they understood. When George shoots Lennie, the tragedy is that we realize it was always going to happen. In my 14 years of teaching in a New York City public middle school, I've taught kids with imprisoned parents,abusive parents,irresponsible parents;kids who are parents themselves;kids who are homeless; kids who grew up in violent neighborhoods. They understand,more than I ever will,the novel's terrible logic-the giving way of dreams to fate (命运).
For the last seven years,I have worked as a reading enrichment teacher,reading classic works of literature with small groups of students from grades six to eight. I originally proposed this idea to my headmaster after learning that a former excellent student of mine had transferred out of a selective high school-one that often attracts the literary-minded children of Manhattan's upper classes-into a less competitive setting. The daughter of immigrants, with a father in prison, she perhaps felt uncomfortable with her new classmates. I thought additional “cultural capital” could help students like her develop better in high school, where they would unavoidably meet, perhaps for the first time,students who came from homes lined with bookshelves,whose parents had earned Ph.D.'s.
Along with Of Mice and Men,my groups read:Sounder,The Red Pony,Lord of the Flies, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.The students didn't always read from the expected point of view.
About The Red Pony,one student said,“it's about being a man,it's about manliness.” I had never before seen the parallels between Scarface and Macbeth, nor had I heard Lady Macbeth's soliloquies (独白) read as raps (说唱),but both made sense;the interpretations were playful,but serious. Once introduced to Steinbeck's writing,one boy went on to read The Grapes of Wrath and told me repeatedly how amazing it was that “all these people hate each other,and they're all white.” His historical view was broadening,his sense of his own country deepening. Year after year,former students visited and told me how prepared they had felt in their first year in college as a result of the classes.
Year after year, however,we are increasing the number of practice tests. We are trying to teach students to read increasingly complex texts,not for emotional punch (碰撞) but for text complexity. Yet, we cannot enrich (充实) the minds of our students by testing them on texts that ignore their hearts. We are teaching them that words do not amaze but confuse. We may succeed in raising test scores, but we will fail to teach them that reading can be transformative and that it belongs to them.
The underlined words in Paragraph 1 probably mean that a book helps to __________.

A.realize our dreams B.give support to our life
C.smooth away difficulties D.awake our emotions

Why were the students able to understand the novel Of Mice and Men?

A.Because they spent much time reading it.
B.Because they had read the novel before.
C.Because they came from a public school.
D.Because they had similar life experiences.

The girl left the selective high school possibly because__________. .

A.she was a literary-minded girl
B.her parents were immigrants
C.she couldn't fit in with her class
D.her father was then in prison

To the author's surprise, the students read the novels__________. .

A.creatively B.passively
C.repeatedly D.carelessly

The author writes the passage mainly to__________. .

A.introduce classic works of literature
B.advocate teaching literature to touch the heart
C.argue for equality among high school students
D.defend the current testing system

One of our biggest fears nowadays is that our kids might have spent too much time with electronic devices rather than experiencing the natural world. Fear-producing TV and computer games are leading to a serious disconnect between kids and the great outdoors, which will change the wild places of the world, its creatures and human health for the worse, unless adults get working on child’s play.
Each of us had a place in nature we go sometimes, even if it was torn down. We cannot be the last generation to have that place. At this rate, kids who miss the sense of wonder outdoors will not grow up to be protectors of natural landscapes. “If the decline in parks use continues across North America, who will defend parks against encroachment(蚕食)?” asks Richard Louv , author of Last Child in the Woods.
Without having a nature experience, kids can turn out just fine, but they are missing out a huge enrichment of their lives. That applies to everything from their physical health and mental health, to stress levels, creativity and cognitive(认知的)skills. Experts predict modern kids will have poorer health than their parents---and they say a lack of outside play is surely part of it; research suggests that kids do better academically in schools with a nature component and that play in nature fosters(培养)leadership. Even a tiny outdoor experience can create wonder in a child , The three-year-old turning over his first rock realizes he is not alone in the world. A clump(丛) of trees on the roadside can be the whole universe in his eyes. We really need to value that more.
Kids are not to blame. They are over-protected and frightened. It is dangerous out there from time to time, but repetitive stress from computers is replacing breaking an arm as a childhood rite(仪式)of passage.
Everyone from developers to schools and outdoorsy citizens, should help regain for our kids some of the freedom and joy of exploring, taking friendship in fields and woods that strengthen love, respect and need for the landscape. As parents, we should devote some of our energies to taking our kids into nature. This could yet be our greatest cause.
According to Paragraph 2, the writer thinks that_____.

A.we are the last generation to experience nature.
B.Richard Louv does’t defend parks against encroachment
C.without a nature experience, kids are missing lots of fun
D.children should grow up to be protectors of nature

Which of the following is not listed as a reason for children being disconnected with nature?

A.The wild has been more dangerous than ever.
B.Parents are too protective of their children.
C.TV plays sometimes inspire fear into children’s heart.
D.Many children are lost in the world of technology.

According to the passage, children without experiencing nature will __________.

A.keep a high sense of wonder
B.be over-protected by their parents
C.be less healthy both physically and mentally
D.change wild places and creatures for the better

According to the author, children’s breaking an arm is __________.

A.the fault on the part of their parents
B.the natural experience in their growing up
C.the result of their own carelessness in play
D.the effect of their repetitive stress from computers

In writing this passage, the author mainly intends to __________.

A.blame children for getting lost in computer games
B.encourage children to protect parks from encroachment
C.show his concern about children’s lack of experience in nature
D.inspire children to keep the sense of wonder about things around

Jimmy is an automotive mechanic, but he lost his job a few months ago. He has good heart, but always feared applying for a new job.
One day, he gathered up all his strength and decided to attend a job interview. His appointment was at 10 am and it was already 8:30. While waiting for a bus to the office where he was supposed to be interviewed, he saw an elderly man wildly kicking the tyre of his car. Obviously there was something wrong with the car. Jimmy immediately went up to lend him a hand. When Jimmy finished working on the car, the old man asked him how much he should pay for the service. Jimmy said there was no need to pay him; he just helped someone in need, and he had to rush for an interview. Then the old man said, “Well, I could take you to the office for your interview. It’s the least I could do. Please. I insist.” Jimmy agreed.
Upon arrival, Jimmy found a long line of applications waiting to be interviewed. Jimmy still had some grease on him after the car repair, but he did not have much time to wash it off or have a change of shirt. One by one, the applicants left the interviewer’s office with disappointed look on their faces. Finally his name was called. The interviewer was sitting on a large chair facing the office window. Rocking the chair back and forth, he asked, “Do you really need to be interviewed?” Jimmy’s heart sank. “With the way I look now, how could I possibly pass this interview?” he thought to himself.
Then the interviewer turned the chair and to Jimmy’s surprise, it was the old man he helped earlier in the morning. It turned out he was the General Manager of the company.“Sorry I had to keep you waiting, but I was pretty sure I made the right decision to have you as part of our workforce before you even stepped into the office. I just know you’d be a trustworthy worker. Congratulations!” Jimmy sat down and they shared a cup of well-deserved coffee as he landed himself a new job.
Why did Jimmy apply for a new job?

A.He was out of work
B.He was bored with his job
C.He wanted a higher position
D.He hoped to find a better boss

What did Jimmy see on the way to the interview?

A.A friend’s car had a flat tyre
B.a wild man was pushing a car
C.a terrible accident happened
D.an old man’s car broke down

Why did the old man offer Jimmy a ride?

A.He was also to be interviewed
B.He needed a traveling companion
C.He always helped people in need
D.He was thankful to Jimmy

How did Jimmy feel on hearing the interviewer’s question?

A.He was sorry for the other applicants
B.There was no hope for him to get the job
C.He regretted helping the old man
D.The interviewer was very rude

What can we learn from Jimmy’s experience?

A.Where there is a will, there’s a way
B.A friend in need is a friend indeed
C.Good is rewarded with good.
D.Two heads are better than one

Mini Book Excerpts (节选)
Biography(自传)
When Salinger learned that a car park was to be built on the land,the middleaged writer was shocked and quickly bought the neighboring area to protect it ... The towns people never forgot the rescue and came to help their most famous neighbor.
J. D. Salinger: A Life by Kenneth Slawenski (Random House,$27)
Mystery (疑案小说)
“You're a smart boy. Benny's death was no accident, and you're the only one who saw it happen. Do you think the murderer should get away with it? ”The boy was staring stubbornly at his lap again.
A thought suddenly occurred to Annika,“Did you ...You recognized the man in the car, didn't you?”
The boy hesitated, twisting his fingers,“Maybe,”he said quietly.
Red Wolf by Liza Marklund (Atria Books, $25.99)
Short Stories
She wants to say to him what she has learned,none of it in class: Some women are born stupid, and some women are too smart for their own good. Some women are born to give, and some women only know how to take. Some women learn who they want to be from their mothers, some who they don't want to be. Some mothers suffer so their daughters won't. Some mothers love so their daughters won't.
You Are Free by Danzy Senna (Riverhead Books,$15)
Humor
Do your kids like to have fun? Come to Fun Times! Do you like to watch your kids having fun? Bring them to Fun Times! Fun Times's “amusement cycling” is the most fun you can have, legally, in the United States right now. Why spend thousands of dollars flying to Disney World when you can spend less than half of that within a day's drive of most cities?
Happy And Other Bad Thoughts by Larry Doyle (Ecco,$14.99)
If the readers want to know about the life of Salinger, they should buy the book published by ________.

A.Ecco B.Random House
C.Riverhead Books D.Atria Books

The book Happy And Other Bad Thoughts is intended for ________.

A.young children B.Disney World workers
C.middle school teachers D.parents with young children

Which book describes women with characters of their own?
A.You Are Free B.J. D. Salinger: A Life
C.Happy And Other Bad Thoughts D.Red Wolf

The USA is a land of immigrants. Between 1815 and 1914, the world witnessed the greatest peaceful migration in its history: 35 million people, mostly Europeans, left their homelands to start new lives in America. Why did these people risk everything by leaving their homes and families?
First, what forced emigrants to make the decision to leave? One major cause for European farmers to leave was the rise in population which in turn led to land hunger. Another was politics. There was an increases taxation(税收)and the growth of armies, and many young men fled eastern Europe to avoid being forced to join the army. Physical hunger provided another pressing reason. Following the collapse(衰退)of the economy of southern Italy in the 1860s, hundreds of thousands decided to start a new life in America. Religion also encouraged millions to leave the Old World.
In short, people chose to leave their homes for social, economic and religious reasons. As a result, by 1890 among a total population of 63 million, there were more than nine million foreign-born Americans.
But what were the attractions? First of all, there was the promise of land which was scarce(缺乏的,罕见的)in Europe. Next, factories were calling for workers, and pay conditions were much better than back home. Men were needed to open up the West and build the long railroads, and new towns needed settlers to live in and to develop business. There was the space for religious people to practice their faith in peace.
This immigration meant that by around the 1850s Americans of non-English had started to be more than those of English. As we know, there were losers. To start with, there were those unwilling immigrants, the slaves who had been used as a source of cheap labor. Nor should we forget the equally unlucky American Indians. By 1860 there were 27 million free whites, four million slaves and a mere 488,000 free blacks.
Nowadays, the USA is still seen by millions as the Promised Land. As always, it remains an attractive place to those who think it will offer them a second chance.
What is not the cause for people to leave their homeland?

A.The search for religious freedom. B.Economics.
C.Unwillingness to join the army. D.The search for adventure.

Why was life of the 19th Century European farmers difficult?

A.There were too many of them. B.There was no space.
C.The population had gone down. D.There was no land.

Which of the following was not an attraction of the USA?

A.Employment. B.Freedom of religion
C.A healthy life. D.Business opportunities.

What is the topic of this passage?

A.The USA is still seen by millions as the Promised Land.
B.The USA is a land of immigrants.
C.Religion encouraged millions to leave the Old World.
D.About one-eighth of non-native born Americans live in the USA in 1890.

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