Christopher Thomas, 27, was a writer by night and a teacher by day when he noticed he was always tired and was losing weight fast. Diagnosed with diabetes(糖尿病), Thomas would need to inject himself with insulin(胰岛素) three times a day for the rest of his life or risk nerve damage, blindness, and even death. And if that weren't bad enough, he had no health insurance.
After a month of feeling upset, Thomas decided he'd better find a way to fight back. He left Canton, Michigan for New York, got a job waiting tables, nicknamed himself the Diabetic Rockstar, and created diabeticrockstar.com, a free online community for diabetics and their loved ones—a place where over 1,100 people share personal stories, information, and resources.
Jason Swencki’s son, Kody, was diagnosed with type diabetes at six. Father and son visit the online children's forums(论坛) together most evenings. "Kody gets so excited, writing to kids from all over," says Swencki, one of the site's volunteers. "They know what he's going through, so he doesn't feel alone."
Kody is anything but alone: Diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with 24 million diagnosed cases. And more people are being diagnosed at younger ages.
These days, Thomas's main focus is his charity（慈善机构）, Fight It, which provides medicines and supplies to people—225 to date—who can't afford a diabetic's huge expenses. Fight-it.org has raised about $23,000—in products and in cash. In May, Thomas will hold the first annual Diabetic Rockstar Festival in the Caribbean.
Even with a staff of 22 volunteers, Thomas often devotes up to 50 hours a week to his cause, while still doing his full-time job waiting tables. "Of the diabetes charities out there, most are putting money into finding a cure," says Bentley Gubar, one of Rockstar's original members. "But Christopher is the only person I know saying people need help now."Which of the following is true of Christopher Thomas?
| A．He needs to go to the doctor every day. |
| B．He studies the leading cause of diabetes |
| C．He has a positive attitude to this disease. |
| D．He encourages diabetics by writing articles. |
Diabeitcrockstar.com was created for _________.
| A．diabetics to communicate | B．volunteers to find jobs |
| C．children to amuse themselves | D．rock stars to share resources. |
According to the text, Kody ______.
| A．feel lonely because of his illness | B．benefits from diabeticrockstar.com |
| C．helps create the online kid’s forums | D．writes children’s stories online |
What can we learn about Fight It?
| A．It helps the diabetics in financial difficulties. |
| B．It organizes parties for volunteer once a year. |
| C．It offers less expensive medicine to diabetics. |
| D．It owns a well-known medical website. |
The last paragraph suggests that Thomas ______.
| A．works full-time in a diabetes charity | B．employs 22 people for his website |
| C．helps diabetics in his own way | D．ties to find a cure for diabetes |
It was 3:12 a. m. when nine-year-old Glenn Kreamer awoke to the smell of burning. Except for the crackling（爆裂声）of flames somewhere below there was not a sound in the two-storey house at Baldwin, Long Island. With his father away on night duty at a local factory, Glenn was worried about the safety of his mother, his sister Karen, 14 and his 12-year-old brother Todd. He ran downstairs through the smoke filled house to push and pull at Karen and Todd until they sat up. Then he helped each one through the house to the safety of the garden. There, his sister and brother, taking short and quick breaths and coughing, collapsed on the lawn.
The nine-year-old raced back into the house and upstairs to his mother’s room. He found it impossible to waked her up. Mrs. Kreamer, a victim of the smoke, was unconscious, and there was nobody to help Glenn carry her to the garden. But the boy remained calm and , as a fireman said later, “acted with all the self-control of a trained adult.”
On the bedroom telephone, luckily still working, Glenn called his father and, leaving Mr. Kreamer to telephone the fire brigade and ambulance service, got on with the task of saving his mother.
First he filled a bucket with water from the bathroom and threw water over his mother and her bed. Then, with a wet cloth around his head he went back to the garden.
He
could hear the fire engine coming up, but how would the firemen find his mother in the smoke-filled house where flames had almost swallowed up the ground floor?
Grasping firmly a ball of string（线绳） from the garage, Glenn raced back into the house and dashed upstairs to his mother’s room. Tying one end of the string to her hand， he ran back, laying out the string as he went, through the hall and back out into the garden.
Minutes later he was telling fire chief John Coughlan: “The string will lead you to mother.” Mrs. Kreamer was carried to safety as the flames were breaking through her bedroom floor.Why did Glenn run downstairs first?
| A．He wanted to find out what was happening. |
| B．He was worried about his mother’s safety. |
| C．He wanted to save his sister and brother. |
| D．He went to see if his father had come back from work. |
How did Glenn help the firemen to save his mother?
| A．By throwing water all over her and her bed. |
| B．By carrying her to safety with his brother. |
C．By push ing and pulling at her. |
| D．By tying a string to her hand. |
What did Glenn do to protect himself?
| A．He put a wet cloth around his head. |
| B．He threw water all over himself. |
| C．He hid himself in the bathroom. |
| D．He rushed out to the lawn. |
Glenn saved his family because___________.
| A．his father had taught him to do so on the phone |
| B．he had learned something about first aid |
| C．he had dealt with the emergency calmly and wisely |
| D．he had followed his mother’s instruction |
Some American parents might think their children need better education to compete with those in China and other countries. But how much do the parents themselves need to change?
A new book called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua has caused a debate about cultural differences in parenting. In Chinese culture, the tiger represents strength and power. In the book, Ms. Chua writes about how she demanded excellence from her daughters. She said that she had a clear list of what her daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were not permitted to do, such as attending a sleepover, having a play date, watching TV or playing computer games and getting any grade less than an A.
Many people have criticized Amy Chua. Some say her parenting methods were abusive(辱骂的). She even a
dmits that her husband, who is not Chinese, sometimes objected to her parenting style. But she says that it was the way her parents raised her and her three sisters.
Ms. Chua makes fun of her own extreme style of parenting. She says she eased
some of the pressure after her younger daughter rebelled and shouted, “I hate my life! I hate you!”
Ms. Chua says she decided to retreat when it seemed like there was a risk that she might lose her daughters. But she also says American parents often have low expectations of their children’s abilities. “One of the biggest differences I see between Western and Chinese parents is that Chinese parents assume strength rather than fragility(脆弱),” she said.
“The beginning of this intense discussion has to do with what it means to be a successful parent and what it means to be a successful child,” said Stacy Debroff, who has written four books about parenting.
Ms. Debroff says Amy Chua’s parenting style is not limited to Chinese families. She says it represents a traditional way of parenting among immigrants(移民) seeking a better future for their children.
But she also sees a risk. When children have no time to be social or to follow their own interests, they might not develop other skills that they need to succeed in life. Stacey Debroff advises parents to develop their own styles of parenting and not just repeat the way they were raised.Amy Chua has been criticized mainly because ____.
| A．she looks up to boys and down on girls |
| B．she has already abused her right as a parent |
| C．she hasn’t raised her children like her own parents |
| D．she has fought with her children several times |
Which can best describe Ms. Chua according to the passage?
| A．Uneducated. | B．Cruel. | C．Strict. | D．Strong. |
According to Ms. Debroff, _____.
| A．Amy Chua’s parenting style should be banned(禁止) in China |
| B．Amy Chua’s should stop to adopt American parenting styles |
| C．Amy Chua’s parenting style should be adjusted if possible |
| D．There isn’t any advantages in Amy Chua’s style |
What does the underlined word “retreat” in Paragraph 5
mean?
| A．Give in. | B．Pass away. | C．Cry out. | D．Go ahead. |
What should be the best title of this passage?
| A．Some books on studying styles. |
| B．The disadvantage of Chinese parenting styles |
| C．Differences between western and eastern parenting styles |
| D．The comparison between American and Chinese parenting styles |
A lazy Susan is an addition to a table, which is designed to assist in moving food from one person to another while dining. This is accomplished through the use of a turntable(转盘), which usually moves the food in a circle when pushed by those at table. In this way, the food never has to be picked up and passed around the table. Instead, it remains in place as the lazy Susan is turned about.
A lazy Susan may also be a part of a kitchen cabinet. One may spin the lazy Susan in order to find certain goods stored in it. From the outside, a lazy Susan appears to be two cabinets. When one of these cabinets is pushed, however, both doors move an
d the lazy Susan is revealed inside.
Whether the lazy Susan is on a tabletop or within a cabinet, it can be made of a variety of materials. Most commonly, a lazy Susan is made of either plastic, wood or glass. Some people believe that Thomas Jefferson invented the lazy Susan, though it was referred to as a dumb waiter(上菜升降架) at that time. It is said that Jefferson invented the lazy Susan because his daughter complained she was always served last at table and, as a result, never found herself full when leaving the table. Othe
rs believe that Thomas Edison was the inventor, as he is believed to have invented the turntable for his phonograph(留声机), which later developed into the lazy Susan.
Regardless of who invented it, it wasn’t until 1917 that the term lazy Susan was created in an advertisement for the invention. In Britain, however, the term dumb waiter is still used rather than the term lazy Susan. The reason for the name lazy Susan remains a mystery. One theory is that it was named after either Jefferson’s or Edison’s daughter, both of whom were named Susan. According to the passage, a lazy Susan _____.
| A．is a person who serves food at table |
| B．is a waitress who helps move dinner tables |
C．is an additiona l round table in a dining room |
| D．is a turntable that passes food around the table |
Which of the following is NOT true of the lazy Susan?
| A．On a tabletop, it is convenient for people to have dinner. |
| B．Within a cupboard, it is easy for people to see what is inside. |
| C．The turntable was invented in 1917. |
| D．It can be made of many kinds of materials. |
Why did Jefferson’s daughter complain she was served last when having meals?
| A．Because she was too lazy. |
| B．Because she was the youngest. |
| C．Because the table was too tall for her. |
| D．Because the table couldn’t move food for her. |
From the passage, we can know that _____.
| A．the lazy Susan was invented earlier than the phonograph |
| B．Susan was the name of Jefferson’s and Edison’s daughter |
| C．Jefferson and Edison invented the lazy Susan at the same time |
D．When people talk about a lazy waitress they u se the term “Susan” |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．What is a lazy Susan? |
| B．When was the lazy Susan created? |
| C．Why do inventions come from the daily life? |
| D．How was “dumb waiter” replaced by “lazy Susan”? |
After a year of preparing herself, Laura Dekker has been given permission to sail around the world. “I was so happy that I almost jumped into the river,” Laura said, after learning of the court’s verdict(判决).
The 14-year-ol
d was born on a ship in the South Pacific, and currently lives with her father on a boat. When child protection agencies heard about her plan to sail alone, they took the case to court and prevented her from making such a dangerous voyage.
Since the decision, though, Laura had been preparing with her father to convince the court that she was ready. Later on, she received the books and other materials she would need for school while she was at sea. She added safety equipment to a new, big ship. And she took her first aid course to learn several survival skills, like how to put out fires on the boat, take care of her own injuries and deal with lack of sleep. She also planned a safer course --- adding alternate routes(备用路径) to avoid pirate attacks, and planning a course that would have her on dry land as she moved from port to port across the globe.
Even with all of the added preparations, the trip still has its risks. In early June, 16-year-old Abby Sunderland, an American, had to abandon(放弃) her attempt to become the youngest sailor to travel around the world. Her ship’s mast(桅杆) broke due to rough waters in the Indian Ocean, and she was rescued by a French fishing ship.
Laura plans to take longer than Abby for her voyage, and is using a larger and more stable boat. If she finished successfully in less than two years, she will take the title from current record-holder Jessica Watson, of Australia, who was 16 when she completed the journey.Which of the following is TRUE of Laura?
| A．She prepared the voyage at the age of 12. |
| B．She lost her mother after she was born. |
| C．She was allowed to sail around the world finally. |
| D．She wanted to donate money made from the voyage. |
At first, child protection agencies were against Laura’s plan because ____.
| A．it was considered to be a dangerous trip |
| B．Laura had to finish her schooling first |
| C．it would cost Laura too much time and money |
| D．Laura wasn’t prepared for the sailing alone |
What is Mr. Dekker’s attitude towards Laura’s trip?
| A．Doubtful | B．Supportive | C．Uncertain | D．Neutral(中立的) |
Paragraph 3 mainly talks about ____.
| A．how Laura convinced the court |
| B．why Laura needed to study at sea |
| C．how Laura prepared for the voyage |
D．where Laura could avoid pirate attacks |
The person who keeps the record comes from ____.
| A．Holland | B．America | C．India | D．Australia |
I got married in 2008. My husband and I are very emotional and have loads of dreams in life. Now I want to share a hidden part of my life.
After one month of my marriage, I started working because I could not sit home. To accomplish our dreams, we are both working hard day and night in spite of belonging to a good family. Life is very strange. When any turn happens, one cannot know.
I started working because I was very ambitious. I used to wonder about people who worked to earn their bread but I never knew in my wildest dreams that I would be part of the crow who work to earn a livelihood.
I was blessed with a daughter in November, 2009. She was just three months and 15 days old when I rejoined my job. My husband supported me and my family supported me but I never wanted to work again because I belonged to a family where a mother should give her full attention to her child.
Keeping all the values aside that I learnt from my parents, I went back to work and will work till my last breath.
I missed my daughter every second. She has started recognizing and throwing expressions for likes and dislikes. I cannot share my feelings with anyone, as I do not want anyone to know that I am broken completely from inside.
My husband and my daughter are my greatest strength but I ignore them just to earn money and fulfill my dreams that I have.
If one day, my daughter complains to someone about her mom, please tell her that she is my reason for survival and happiness and she is 
the only one who brings smile to my face.The author began to wo
rk after her marriage mainly because ____.
A．She expected t o prevent herself from doing housework |
| B．She hoped to achieve her dream |
| C．She wanted to support her husband |
| D．She wanted to make her own bread |
After her daughter’s birth, the author thought ____ in the beginning.
| A．she should work harder |
| B．she should continue her career as she used to |
| C．she should stop working and care for her child |
| D．she should become a more ambitious mother |
From the passage, we can know that the author’s daughter ____.
| A．lives together with her mom now |
| B．hasn’t begun to learn to speak so far |
| C．always makes her mom heartbroken |
| D．has given much comfort to her mom |
The author wrote this passage in order to ____.
| A．complain about her present life |
B．show her love for her daughter |
| C．keep a diary of her daughter’s growth |
| D．present the hardships of a working mother |
What is the best title of this passage?
| A．The secret of a working mother |
| B．A working family is continuing |
| C．A husband’s support for his wife’s career |
| D．The comparison between the family and career for a mother |