Last year, I lived in Chile for half a year. I lived with a Chilean family and had the responsibilities of any Chilean teenager. I had good days and bad days I didn’t understand.
Chuquicamata, my host community, is a mining camp. When I arrived there, I was scared. It was so different from what I was used to. There were lots of dogs on the streets, and there was no downtown, few smoothly paved streets, and little to do for entertainment. Rain was not seen very often, earthquakes and windstorms were frequent.
I had studied Spanish for two and a half years and was always one of the best students in my class. But in my first week in Chile I was only able to communicate and needed one person to whom I could explain my shock. I couldn’t speak the thoughts in my head and there were so many.
Most exchange students experience this like me. Culture shock presents itself in everything from increased aggression (敌对心理) towards the people to lack of appetite. I was required to overcome all difficulties.
As time passed, everything changed. I began to forget words in English and to dream in Spanish and love Chilean food. I got used to not depending on expensive things for fun. Fun in Chuquicamata was being with people. And I took math, physics, chemistry, biology, Spanish, art, and philosophy.
But the sacrifices were nothing compared to the gain. I learned how to accept and to succeed in another culture. I now have a deeper understanding of both myself and others.The author came to Chile last year with the purpose of ________.
| A．paying a visit to Chile as a tourist |
| B．experiencing Chilean life as a teacher |
| C．studying Chilean culture as a college student |
| D．studying knowledge as an exchange student |
On arriving in Chile, why did the author feel frightened?
| A．Because he did not know how to get along with the local people. |
| B．Because it was full of dangers like earthquakes and windstorms. |
| C．Because its living conditions were worse than what he was used to. |
| D．Because it was not convenient for him to shop there. |
In the first week in Chile the author ________.
| A．was not used to eating Chilean food |
| B．had some friends to have a chat with |
| C．couldn’t communicate with people |
| D．couldn’t express his thoughts in English |
What did the author most probably think of his life in Chile?
| A．Wonderful and worthwhile | B．Difficult but meaningful |
| C．Difficult and meaningless | D．Boring and disappointing |
According to the passage, which of the following statements about Chile is TRUE?
| A．its official language is Spanish and English. |
| B．It is a developing country without foreign students. |
| C．It seldom rains and natural disasters often happen. |
| D．Most Chileans are not friendly to foreigners. |
It is common and usual to see people freak out when they face challenges in their life. We all pass in different life problems and challenges. No one is free of life problems. Only a dead man faces no problem. As long as you are alive, challenges are everywhere.
How do you face problems and challenges in your life? Problems and challenges are the building blocks of your personality. They make you who you are. Besides, whether what happened in your life builds or destructs you depends on how you look at it. If you take your problems as troubles, they will be troubles and may cause destruction. If you take them as constructive tools, you are going to be built up on them.
Problems are everywhere. No one can avoid them. And they are good too. They open up a different look and opportunity if you are willing to see. When you face troubles, do not frustrate or freak out. Just cool yourself to think in a different direction. Think in a positive way. Every problem has its own good as well as bad sides. Focus on the good one. Look at the bright side.
Besides, there is always a good person, perhaps your mom or dad, or one of your friends, right beside you who can turn everything into your best if you are willing to turn to them. No matter what happens, they will be there to help you. Trust them and they will never let you down. All you need to know is that you are loved wherever you are. What’s the meaning of the underlined phrase “freak out” in Paragraph 1?
| A．Feel shy. | B．Stay calm. | C．Keep up. | D．Feel upset. |
In Paragraph 2, the writer implies that ______.
| A．problems cause troubles |
| B．attitude is everything |
| C．challenges can be avoided |
| D．personalities are built on failures |
According to the last paragraph, when we’re in trouble, we ______.
| A．can only depend on our parents |
| B．are not alone |
| C．should only believe ourselves |
| D．are not confident |
What’s the writer’s purpose to write the passage?
| A．To encourage. | B．To compare. | C．To prove. | D．To explain. |
Nobody Benefits
NEW YORK—America has been experiencing the longest economic increase in its history．Incomes have risen, unemployment has fallen, and cities such as New York are bursting with new office buildings．
But just a short walk from Manhattan's skyscrapers, George Brown sits on the side-walk, cooking a lunch of rice and bits of fish over a can of cooking fuel．
Brown is homeless — one of the 2.3 million people in the US who end up on the street．
During the day, Brown collects aluminium cans and sells them for five cents a piece．At night, he sleeps on the street．
"I have been on the street about eight or nine years, something like that," said the 62-year-old former construction worker．
Brown admits he's had problems with alcohol and has smoked cocaine．But he said he still wants a more stable housing arrangement．He could afford it just with the money he earns by collecting cans and small pieces of metal, if only truly low-income housing were available．
However, he sees no hope of finding affordable housing in New York．
With the strong economy and unemployment down, beautiful housing is being built to meet demand．
A US report shows rents in New York city rose more than 27 percent between 1984 and 1999, from US $549 to US $700 a month．
One of the side effects of the strong economy is that rents have been going up．
The majority of people who experience homelessness really just need some affordable housing help．
But few housing companies have been built for the poor．Many small apartments in the city now rent for US $1,500 a month or more．
Brown, the homeless New Yorker, said he has a daughter who lives in the city but he rarely sees her．She is angry about his drinking and won't allow it in her house．
Smiling, he said he also has seven grandchildren whom he'd like to see more often．
"All I've got to do is clean up my act," he said．What kind of life does George Brown lead?
| A．Homeless and dangerous． |
| B．Homeless and childish． |
| C．Homeless and miserable （痛苦的）． |
| D．Homeless and sleepless． |
From George Brown's life we can find that ______.
| A．old Americans lead a hard life |
| B．old Americans want to live alone |
| C．American cities are crowded with poor people |
| D．bad habits play a role in some poor people's Life |
It can be inferred from this passage that ______.
| A．America is short of housing companies |
| B．the poor can't benefit from the increasing economy |
| C．poor people in America will become rich |
| D．housing companies will build more houses for the poor |
If this passage comes from a paper, on which page would it be?
| A．Society． | B．Science． | C．Economy． | D．Business． |
There used to be a term that was used to describe someone who drove their vehicles down the highway while staring at the scenery. These drivers just drove slowly, taking their own sweet time, as if they had nothing to do and no place in particular to go. Thus, the expression, “Sunday driver”, was born. Consequently, a Sunday driver wasn’t necessarily someone who was driving on a Sunday. A person could be a Sunday driver any day of the week. The expression simply meant that the person was an obstacle to other drivers who were in a hurry.
The expression probably came about because there was a time when people would often decide to go for a relaxing drive on Sunday afternoons. A Sunday drive was a common occurrence years ago and especially on a nice warm sunny day. There were no stores open on Sunday because of the “blue laws”, so you needed to be sure and fill up the gas tank and make any other needed purchases before Sunday arrived.
Some of the states had strict blue laws that even prohibited some activities on Sunday. However, there is still a lot to be said for the slow, gentle life that once existed. It was a time when very few people worked on Sunday except for those professions vital to our well-being such as those in the medical profession. It was a day “set apart” that was used to rest, visit with neighbors and friends, or maybe go to grandma’s house for supper. Today there are many who return to work and children who go back to school overly tired on Monday due to a lack of rest. Perhaps there would be less stress related illnesses if we really kept Sunday as a day of rest. According to the passage, “Sunday driver” refers to the person who ______.
| A．drives his vehicle on Sundays |
| B．drives for fun and relaxation |
| C．enjoys a weekend break |
| D．makes a Sunday purchase |
What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph l mean?
| A．Sunday drivers affected traffic flow |
| B．Sunday drivers drove too slowly |
| C．Sunday drivers increased traffic speed |
| D．Sunday drivers felt hatred for other drivers |
What kind of activity was strictly prohibited on Sunday by the laws?
| A．Visiting with neighbors and friends. |
| B．Going to the hospital to see a doctor. |
| C．Having a family get-together. |
| D．Selling goods or services. |
According to the author, Sunday rest would help people______.
| A．earn a lot more money |
| B．experience less pressure |
| C．keep pace with society |
| D．improve academic performance |
The ozone layer(臭氧层) is a thin layer of gas around the earth. It forms a special “blanket” around the planet. This “blanket” protects the earth from dangerous rays produced by the sun. Without the ozone layer, the earth’s climate could warm to dangerous levels. This increase in temperature would threaten our survival. Scientists recently have discovered a hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctica. Now there is great concern that this warning has started, endangering all life on the earth.
What has destroyed part of the ozone layer? Scientists do not know for sure. They suspect that our popular spray cans (喷漆罐) have played a part in the damage. Many spray cans contain dangerous gases. These gases might have destroyed the ozone layer fifteen miles above the earth’s surface, The chemicals used in refrigerators (冰箱) and air conditioners may contribute to the problem, too.
Many scientists believe that the destruction of the ozone layer is a serious problem for people everywhere. Global warming could change weather patterns around the world. Farmers and ranchers(牧场主) could find it more and more difficult to produce enough food for the earth’s people. If more of the sun’s dangerous rays reached the earth, there also could be an increase in skin cancers. Some skin cancers might cause people to die. Although some scientists do not believe there is a serious danger, obviously no one wants to take any chance on such a possibility.
Can scientists repair the hole in the ozone layer? They really don’t know the answer to that question. Can people do anything to save the ozone layer that the earth still has? Scientists stress the need to limit the use of spray cans and other items that contain the dangerous gases. This will not be an easy task. People all over the world use these items. Solving the problem certainly will require commitment and cooperation from everyone. The ozone layer exists to _____.
| A．warm the earth to a proper level for life |
| B．protect the earth from dangerous sun rays |
| C．make all life on the earth in a dangerous situation |
| D．prevent human beings from being harmed from the earth |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Scientists aren’t sure what has destroyed part of the ozone layer. |
| B．Scientists recently have discovered a hole in the Antarctica. |
| C．Scientists prove that spray cans have destroyed part of the ozone layer. |
| D．Global warming doesn’t affect weather patterns around the world. |
The following may do harm to the ozone layer EXCEPT ______.
| A．spray cans | B．refrigerators | C．ranchers | D．air conditioners |
Saving the ozone layer needs everyone’s effort because _____.
| A．scientists are badly in need of others’ help |
| B．items containing dangerous gases should be forbidden |
| C．scientists can’t afford so much money to take measures |
| D．people all over the world use items containing dangerous gases |
PGL kids everywhere, will tell you that we are the best when it comes to thrills, challenges and adventures - all rolled into one fantastic holiday! Children leave PGL with loads of more friends and interests and feel more confident - they’ll be counting the days until their next PGL holiday! For childcare voucher(代币券) information, please click here.
Climbing Adventure
This holiday will teach you how to independently climb! At the end of the week you’ll get to use all your new skills when you visit a local cliff for some outdoor crag climbing. We make the best use of all our activities including Climbing, Abseiling, Trapeze, Zip Wire and Jacob’s Ladder to teach you all the right rope work and climbing skills. Throughout the holiday you will work towards the National Indoor Climbing Achievement Scheme and by the end of the holiday you will have achieved Level 2.
Cook’s Academy
Our brand new holiday for 2013! Come along and learn how to cook with a top chef! Whether you’ve never cooked before or are a bit of a pro, this holiday will have you cooking a variety of tasty dishes and treats. No experience is required as our professional chef will pass on their knowledge so you can develop from any level of experience. What’s more, you’ll get your very own recipe book containing everything you’ve learnt and will be able to take a dish home to impress your friends and family.
Dance
This holiday is an excellent opportunity to try loads of different dance styles. You’ll spend half of each day learning different types of dance, everything from salsa to ballroom dancing and street dance to jive. Throughout the week your instructors will give you lots of tips and advice as well as helping you prepare a dance routine to impress your friends when you perform at the end of the week.
Film Making
You and your group will be able to choose what type of film to make - adventure, fantasy, thriller or comedy and then you’ll become a film crew, creating your own blockbuster ready to show to everyone else at the end of the week. You will find out what’s involved in directing a movie and have the chance to edit your film using professional editing software. What’s more, you’ll have your film on DVD to take home with you too!Which is the new PGL holiday for 2013?
| A．Film Making. | B．Dance. |
| C．Climbing Adventure. | D．Cook’s Academy. |
What will you do during the Climbing Adventure holiday?
| A．You will go outdoors with your friends to practice climbing. |
| B．You will visit many local dangerous cliffs. |
| C．You will learn climbing both indoor and outdoor. |
| D．You will only learn climbing skills during the holiday. |
In which two holidays can you take something home?
| A．Climbing Adventure and Cook’s Academy |
| B．Film Making and Climbing Adventure |
| C．Cook’s Academy and Film Making |
| D．Dance and Film Making |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．Parents are looking forward to the next PGL holiday. |
| B．You need experience when taking Cook’s Academy holiday. |
| C．You will spend every day learning all kinds of dances. |
| D．You can create your own film in Film Making holiday. |