My teenage son Karl became withdrawn after his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him, but the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six failing grades for the year. At this rate he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked.
One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and pleaded for help. “Please God, I can’t do anything more for my son. I’m at the end of my rope. I’m giving the whole thing up to you.” I was at work when I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster. “I want to talk to you about Karl’s absences.” Before he could say another word, I choked up and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. “I love my son but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It’s out of my hands.” For a moment there was silence on the other end of the line. The headmaster seriously said, “Thank you for your time,” and hung up.
Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades. Finally, he even made the honor roll. In his fourth year, I attended a parent-teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were astonished at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home, he said, “Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?” I nodded. “That was me. I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That’s when I knew I had to make you proud.”
59. By saying “Karl became withdrawn”, the author means that the boy changed entirely and_____.
A. preferred to stay alone at home B. lost interest in his studies
C. refused to talk to others D. began to dislike his mother
60. There was silence on the other end of the line because .
A. the speaker was too moved to say anything to the mother
B. the speaker waited for the mother to finish speaking
C. the speaker didn’t want the mother to recognize his voice
D. the speaker was unable to interrupt the mother
61. The sentence “... he even made the honor roll” means that .
A. he was even on the list to be praised at the parent-teacher meeting
B. he was even on the list of students who made progress in grades
C. he was even on the list of students who had turned themselves around
D. he was even on the list of the best students at school
62. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Children in single-parent families often have mental problems.
B. Mother’s love plays an important role in teenagers’ life.
C. Being understood by parents is very important to teenagers.
D. School education doesn’t work without full support from parents.
I’ve loved my mother’s desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat doing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be the more wonderful thing in the world.
Years later, during her final illness, mother kept different things for my sister and brother. “But the desk,” she’d said again, “it’s for Elizabeth. ”
I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed it in action. But as a young girl, I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.
They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional(易动感情的)”. But she lived “on the surface(表面)”.
As years passed I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive(原谅) me.
I posted the letter and waited for her answer. None came.
My hope turned to disappointment(失望), then little interest and, finally, peace— it seemed that nothing happened. I couldn’t be sure that the letter had even got to mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.
Now the present of her desk told, as she’d never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside —a photo of my father and a one-page letter, folded(折叠) and refolded many times.
Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose. Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words. The writer began to love her mother’s desk ______.
A.after Mother died |
B.before she became a writer |
C.when she was a child |
D.when Mother gave it to her |
The passage shows that ______.
A.mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to her daughter |
B.mother was too serious about everything her daughter had done |
C.mother cared much about her daughter in words |
D.mother wrote to her daughter in careful words |
The word “gulf” in the passage means ______.
A.deep understanding between the old and the young |
B.different ideas between the mother and the daughter |
C.free talks between mother and daughter |
D.part of the sea going far in land |
What did mother do with her daughter’s letter asking forgiveness?
A.She had never received the letter. |
B.For years, she often talked about the letter. |
C.She didn’t forgive her daughter at all in all her life. |
D.She read the letter again and again till she died. |
What’s the best title of the passage?
A.My letter to Mother |
B.Mother and Children |
C.My mother’s Desk |
D.Talks between Mother and Me |
Everyone needs recognition(赏识) for his achievements,but few people make the need known quite as clearly as the little boy who said to his father,“Let’s play darts(飞镖).I’ll throw and you should say ‘Wonderful!’”
Fran Tarkenton,former Minnesota Vikings quarterback,once called a play that required him to block onrushing tacklers.
FEL quarterbacks almost never block.They’re usually vastly outweighed by defenders,so blocking exposes them to the risk of severe injury.
But the team was behind,and a surprising play was needed.Tarkenton went into block,and the runner scored a touchdown.The Vikings won the game.
Watching the game films with the team the next day,Tarkenton expected a big pat on the back for what he’d done. It never came.
After the meeting,Tarkenton approached coach Bud Grant and asked,“You saw my block,didn’t you,Coach?How come you didn’t say anything about it?”
Grant replied,“Sure,I saw the block.It was great,but you’re always working hard out there,Fran.I figured I didn’t have to tell you.”
“Well,”Tarkenton replied,“if you ever want me to block again,you do!”What does the author intend to tell us in the passage?
A.Praise can have people take risky actions. |
B.Encouragement can make people achieve greater progress. |
C.No recognition,no progress. |
D.People will be discouraged without praise. |
The author gave the little boy as an example in order to.
A.show the importance of encouragement |
B.show father’s deep love to the son |
C.show the boy was complete understanding of his father |
D.prove the boy was cleverer than the coach |
Which of the following can describe the Fran Tarkenton’s action of blocking onrushing tacklers?
A.Quick,brave,exciting. | B.Brave,risky,successful. |
C.Brave,successful,kind. | D.Fast,clever,strong. |
What did Fran Tarkenton expect while watching the game films?
A.Recognition. | B.Pride. | C.Cheers. | D.Reward. |
It can be inferred from the passage that.
A.Fran Tarkenton was angry with the coach |
B.the coach learned a lesson from Fran Tarkenton |
C.Fran Tarkenton might not take a risk in blocking again |
D.the coach will highly praise Fran Tarkenton next time he blocks |
In a world with limited land, water and other natural resources(资源), the harm from the traditional business model is on the rise. Actually, the past decade has seen more and more forests disappearing and the globe becoming increasingly warm. People now realize that this unhealthy situation must be changed, and that we must be able to develop in sustainable(可持续的)ways. That means growth with low carbon or development of sustainable products. In other words, we should keep the healthy while using its supply of natural resources.
Today, sustainable development is a popular trend in many countries. According to a recent study, the global market for low-carbon energy will become three times bigger over the next decade. China, for example, has set its mind on leading that market, hoping to seize chances in the new round of the global energy resolution. It is now trying hard to made full use of wind and solar energy, and is spending a huge amount of money making electric cars and high-speed trains. In addition, we are also seeing great growth in the global markets for sustainable products such as palm oil(棕榈油), which is produced without cutting down valuable rainforest. In recent years the markets for sustainable products have grown more than 50%.
Governments can fully develop the potential of these new markets. First, they can set high targets for reducing carbon emissions(排放) and targets for saving and reusing energy. Besides, stronger arrangement of public resources like forests can also help to speed up the development. Finally, governments can avoid the huge public expenses that are taking us in the wrong direction, and redirecting some of those expenses can accelerate the change from the traditional model to a sustainable one.
The major challenge of this century is to find ways to meet the needs of a growing population within the limits of this single planet. That is no small task, but it offers a large of new chances for sustainable product industries.The traditional business model is harmful because of all the following EXCEPT that____.
A.it makes the world warmer |
B.it consumes natural resources |
C.it brings severe damage to future |
D.it makes growth hard to continue |
What can we infer from Paragraph2?
A.China lacks wind and solar energy |
B.China is the leader of the low-carbon market |
C.High-speed trains are a low-carbon development |
D.Palm oil is made at the cost of valuable forests |
To fully develop the low-carbon markets, governments can______.
A.cut public expenses | B.forbid carbon emission |
C.develop public resources | D.encourage energy conservation |
We can learn from the last paragraph that business have many chances to _______.
A.develop sustainable products | B.explore new natural resources |
C.make full use of natural resources | D.deal with the major challenge |
What is the main purpose of the passage?
A.To introduce a new business model | B.To compare two business models |
C.To predict a change of the global markets | D.To advocate sustainable development |
Bad teeth can be painful — and worse. They can even be deadly. Infections (感染)of the gums (牙龈)and the teeth can cause bacteria (细菌)to go into the blood system. Those bacteria can increase the chance of a heart attack and worsen the effects of other diseases. And adults are not the only ones at risk. For example, in 2007, doctors in the Washington area said a boy died when a tooth infection spread to his brain. They said it might have been prevented had he received the dental care (牙齿 保健)he needed. He was twelve years old.
Experts at the National Institutes of Health say good dental care starts at birth. Breast milk, they say, is the best food for the healthy development of teeth. Breast milk can help slow the growth of bacteria and acid production in the mouth.
But dentists say a baby's gums and early teeth should be cleaned after each feeding. Use a cloth with a little warm water. Do the same if a baby is fed with a bottle. Experts say if you decide to put your baby to sleep with a bottle, only give the child water.
When baby teeth begin to appear, you can clean them with a wet toothbrush. Dentists say it is important to find soft toothbrushes made especially for babies and to use them very gently.
The use of fluoride (氟化物)to protect teeth is common in many parts of the world. For example, it is often added to drinking water supplies. The fluoride mixes with enamel (法琅质), the hard surface on teeth, to help prevent holes from forming.
31.According to the passage, bad teeth can be ____________.
A.painful B. deadly C.preventive D.incurable
32.The writer uses the boy's death as an example to show that _______•
A. not only adults but the young may suffer from teeth problem
B. babies with bad teeth can easily die
C. the doctors should be responsible for the case
D. the boy was not fed with his breast milk
33. What's the main idea of paragraph 4 and 5?
A. How to develop babies' teeth.B. Why to protect babies' teeth
C. How to keep babies' teeth cleanD. Why to keep babies' teeth clean
34. The passage tells us that _______.
A. Enamel is most widely used to protect teeth in the world
B. Bad teeth may affect the health of adults and the young
C. Breast milk can cure babies' bad teeth
D. Babies' teeth should be brushed once per day
35.Which of the following can be used as the title of the passage?
A. Concerns for Healthy Teeth of the Young B. Importance of Healthy Teeth of All
C. Causes of Teeth Problem D. Solutions to Teeth Problem
Millions of girls grow up with the hope of becoming a famous singer. Some even win local talent competitions as children, but only a few such early successes and dreams turn into reality. Jessica Andrews is one of the few whose dreams have come true.
Andrews, first taste of success came at the age of 10. She won a talent competition in her home town of Huntingdon, Tennessee, singing I Will Always Love You, originally sung by Whitney Houston. Houston's version of the song appeared on The Bodyguard sound track, which happened to be the first album Andrews ever bought.
Within two years, talk of Andrews had spread to Nashville and caught the attention of producer Byron Gallimore, whose credits include work with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Jo Dee Messina. With Gallimore signed on to produce, Andrews soon had a recording contract (合同)with Dream Works' Nashville label.
Andrews' professional career was launched with 1999's Heart Shaped World, recorded when she was 14 years old. The album included the country hit I Will Be There For You, which also appeared on The Prince Of Egypt . She followed up the release of the album by touring as a support act for such country superstars as Faith Hill and Trisha Yearwood.
With the release of 2001’s, Who I Am, Andrews became a star in her own right. The album was certified (证明)gold for sales of 500,000 copies. Andrews returned in April 2003 with Now,an album that she promised would show a new side of the young artist. "This album has a very different feeling for me," she said. "It's a lot more personal and there's a confidence that wasn't quite there on the first two. I feel especially connected to this group of songs."According to the passage, who mostly helped Andrews to achieve success ?
A.Tim McGraw | B.Whitney Houston | C.Faith Hill | D.Byron Gallimore |
What's the meaning of the underlined word “launched,,in the fourth paragraph?
A.Started. | B.Sent. | C.Aimed. | D.Set. |
Which of the following statements is WRONG according to the passage?
A.The Bodyguard was the first album Andrews ever bought. |
B.After Andrews sang Who I Am,she became a star in her own right. |
C.I Will Always Love You was originally sung by Whitney Houston. |
D.Now expresses a new feeling of Andrews. |
Which of the following may NOT be Andrews' album?
A.Now. | B.Heart Shaped World. | C.The Prince of Egypt. | D.Who IAm |
Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.Jessica Andrews' Life | B.Jessica Andrews' Dream |
C.Jessica Andrews' Songs | D.Jessica Andrews' Success as a Singer |