Once when I was six years old I saw an amazing picture in a book called True Stories from Nature about the primeval（原始的）forest. It was a picture of a boa constrictor(大蟒蛇) in the act of swallowing an animal. In the book it said：“Boa constrictors swallow their prey whole without chewing（嚼）it. After that they are not able to move and they sleep through the six months that they need for digestion（消化）.”
I thought deeply then over the adventures of the jungle. And after some work with a colored pencil I succeeded in making my first drawing. My Drawing Number One. I showed my work to the grown-ups and asked them whether the drawing frightened them. But they answered：“Frighten? Why should anyone be frightened by a hat？”
My drawing was not a picture of a hat. It was a picture of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. But since the grown-ups were not able to understand it, I made another drawing. I drew the inside of the boa constrictor so that the grown-ups could see it clearly. They always need to have things explained. That's my Drawing Number Two.
The grown-ups' response this time was to advise me to lay aside my drawings of ba constrictors whether from the inside or the outside and devote myself instead to geography, history, arithmetic and grammar. That is why at the age of six I gave up what might have been a great painter. I had been disheartened by the failure of my Drawing Number One and my Drawing Number Two. Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.
So then I chose another profession（职业） and learned to pilot airplanes. I have flown a little over all parts of the world; and it is true that geography has been very useful to me. At a glance I can distinguish China from Arizona. If one gets lost in the night, such knowledge is valuable.
In the course of this life I have had lots of chances to meet with a great many people. And that hasn't much improved my opinion of them. Whenever I met one of them who seemed to me at all clear-sighted, I tried showing him my Drawing Number One which I have always kept. I would try to find out if this was a person of true understanding. But whoever it was, he or she would always say: That is a hat. Then I would never talk to that person about boa constrictors or primeval forests or stars. I would bring myself down to his level. I would talk to him about bridge and golf and politics and neckties. And the grown-up would be greatly pleased to have met such an intelligent man.The writer drew his first picture in order to ________.
| A．show the grown-ups what the book was about |
| B．frighten the grown-ups trying to enter the forest |
| C．remind himself of the adventures of the jungle |
| D．illustrate（说明）a boa constrictor's act of digesting an animal |
How did the writer understand the grown-ups' response to his second drawing?
| A．He was actually only good at academic study. |
| B．It was a waste of time for him to keep on drawing. |
| C．He had difficulty in communicating with the adults. |
| D．He was good at anything but geography. |
The underlined word disheartened in Paragraph 4 could most probably be replaced by ________.
| A．discouraged | B．dissatisfied | C．discovered | D．disturbed |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A．The writer could have become a pilot if encouraged when young. |
| B．The writer finally changed his opinion of grown-ups. |
| C．The writer has been showing his two pictures to others ever since. |
| D．The writer felt nobody could have really understood him. |
Negative self talk and negative energy can affect you in many ways and cause you additional stress. Because of this, developing more positive self talk is an important way to reduce stress in your life. You can help yourself maintain a positive frame of mind 一which will help with positive self talk一by surrounding yourself with positive energy in your life. You can get that by adding some elements to your life.
Listening to music that not only has a pleasant melody, but an uplifting message, can be great for developing positive self talk. Have you ever had a song “stuck in your head” for a few hours or days, the lyrics (歌词) repeating themselves in your mind? If those lyrics were positive and inspirational, that would be a good thing. It’s a much better mental soundtrack to have than a running stream of complaints, criticisms of self-limiting thoughts, or even songs that had more depressing or sad lyrics.
Books on strength, personal power, enlightenment, or self help can be good resources to help you change your outlook and the things you say to yourself. Rather than bringing habitual self-defeating thoughts, you can find yourself thinking of new can-do concepts when times get tough.
One of the most important ways you can get and keep positive energy in your life is with the company you keep. Do your friends uplift you, or bring you down? Are they critical, or approving? Ideal friendships provide support when you’re down, fun when you’re up, wisdom when you’re lost. Good friends can inspire you to reach greater heights, and see your strengths even when you don’t always. Pay attention to how your friends make you feel, and if they’re less than supportive, start putting your energy and time toward people who are better suited to be your friends.
In addition, positive affirmations (肯定)can certainly change your self talk from negative to positive. Now, why not begin working positive affirmations into your life in some creative ways?What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．Adding some elements to your life. |
| B．Getting positive energy from the company you keep. |
| C．Changing your self talk with positive affirmation. |
| D．Reducing stress by surrounding yourself with positive energy. |
How many ways does the author suggest to maintain a positive frame of mind?
| A．3. | B．4. | C．5. | D．6. |
If you have something “stuck in your head”, you probably ________.
| A．keep thinking of this thing all the time |
| B．keep singing the same song for a long time |
| C．regard the lyrics of a song as positive |
| D．are developing positive self-talk |
According to the passage, your best company should be those who ________.
| A．uplift you or bring you down |
| B．encourage you to do things better |
| C．provide fun when you’re depressed |
| D．are supportive when you are strong |
What will probably be talked about in the following paragraph?
| A．How negative self talk influences a person. |
| B．How positive self talk reduces stress in one’s life. |
| C．Some great ways of making great friends. |
| D．Some creative ways of practicing affirmation. |
In most countries in the world, governments require children to attend schools in which trained teachers are responsible for educating the children using an approved curriculum. However, a sharply increasing number of parents believe that it is much better for their children to be educated at home by the people who know them and their needs best. Today, it is estimated that about one million home schooled children in the United States and tens of thousands of other learners around the world are learning outside of school. Now that home schooling is growing worldwide, the real-world experiences of learners show that schools are not always necessary for learning.
Therefore, an increasing number of parents are deciding that home schooling is the best option for their children. They are unhappy with the quality or depth of education offered in the schools, or have other reasons why they feel that conventional schools (some people would rather call “normal schools” or “traditional schools”) are not suitable for their children. One reason is social factors. Parents worry that their children will suffer from bullying(欺负) or will be forced into bad behavior by peer pressure. They believe that the good behavior they have taught the child will be lost in school. Another reason is concern over the quality of schooling available. Schools frequently have large classes and they are often under-funded and stuffed with teachers without sufficient knowledge of their subjects. In the third place, other parents may disagree with the aims of the school curriculum, preferring for academic, social or cultural reasons to keep their children separate.
However, there are many arguments in favor of sending children to conventional schools. The first is that the children will be exposed to other children. And they will interact with each other and develop social skills. A second point is that the children will learn to function outside the family. They will not be dependent on their parents for their educational, emotional and social needs. A third point is that the children will find it easier to integrate (融入) when they finish school, as they eventually will, when they start work or college.
All in all,while many parents work hard to teach their children at home, conventional schools are still the right choice for most children. Schools are not perfect, but they seem to be a proven way of preparing our children for the real world. After all, education is not only about learning facts and figures, but also about learning how to survive socially.It seems that more and more people come to realize that ______.
| A．teachers should know their students’ needs better. |
| B．children should be educated at school. |
| C．children should learn by themselves. |
| D．children should be educated at home. |
What is the main idea of the second paragraph?
| A．The reasons why parents choose home schooling. |
| B．Parents care much for their young children. |
| C．Parents are forced to accept home schooling. |
| D．The quality of education at conventional school is bad. |
Which of the following is most likely to be the disadvantage of conventional schools according to the parents who choose home schooling?
a. The children will make bad friends.
b. The children may behave badly.
c. There is a lot of academic pressure.
d. There are too many students in a class.
| A．a, b | B．a, d |
| C．b, c | D．b, d |
One of the advantages of the conventional schools is that the students ______.
| A．have to meet each other every day |
| B．will be independent of their educational needs |
| C．can develop their practical skills |
| D．have a better chance of going to college |
According to this passage, the author's attitude towards conventional schooling is ________.
| A．disapproving |
| B．supportive |
| C．puzzled |
| D．suspicious |
It was the small hours of the morning when we reached London Airport. I had rung London from Amsterdam, and there was a hired car to meet, but there was one more unfortunate happening before I reached my flat. In all my travels I have never, but for that once, been required by the British customs to open a single bag or to do more than state that I carried no goods liable to duty, or rather, to declare. It was, of course, my fault; the extreme tiredness and nervous tension of the journey had destroyed my normal state of mind. I was, for whichever reason, so tired that I could hardly stand, and to the question, “have you read this?” I replied with extreme foolishness, “Yes, hundreds of times.”
“And you have nothing to declare?”
“Nothing.”
“How long have you been out of this country?”
“About three months.”
“And during that time you have acquired nothing?”
“Nothing but what is on the list I have given you.”
He seemed momentarily at a loss, but then he attacked. The attack, when it came, was completely unexpected.
“Where did you get that watch?”
I could have kicked myself. Two days before, when playing water games with a friend in the bath, I had forgotten to take off my ROLEX OYSTER, and it had, not unnaturally, stopped. I had gone into the market and bought, for no more than ten pounds, an ugly time piece that made a strange noise. It had stopped twice, without any reason, during the journey.
I explained, but I had already lost face. I produced my own watch from a pocket, and added that I should be grateful if he would confiscate the replacement.
“It is not a question of confiscation; you will have it,” he said, “there is a fine for failing to declare dutiable goods. And now may I please examine that Rolex?”
It took another quarter of an hour to persuade him that the Rolex was not contraband(走私品); then he began to search my luggage.What can we conclude from the questions asked by the customs officer?
| A．He wanted to embarrass the writer. |
| B．He was just fulfilling his duty by asking the passenger some usual questions. |
| C．He must have noticed the writer’s new watch. |
| D．He can’t have noticed the writer’s tiredness. |
What did the writer think of the watch he bought in the market?
| A．He was fond of the watch because it was a Rolex. |
| B．He will replace the Rolex with the new watch. |
| C．He found the watch useful though it was very cheap. |
| D．He didn't like the watch at all. |
What does the underlined word “confiscate” mean?
| A．turn away |
| B．throw away |
| C．put away |
| D．take away |
What must have happened to the writer in the end?
| A．He must have spent a long time at the customs but escaped punishment. |
| B．His Rolex must have been confiscated. |
| C．He must have been given a fine as a punishment. |
| D．His cheap watch must have been confiscated. |
What do you think is the tone of the story?
| A．Serious. | B．Critical. |
| C．Humorous. | D．Objective. |
Chris Waddell wants to climb Kilimanjaro in a wheelchair; George Del Barrio wants to make a film in Cambodia; Jeff Edwards wants to write a book: they want you to fund their dreams.
A website called Kickstarter.com is making it possible for people like this to raise money from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars to fund anything that catches the imagination of Internet users with a little money to spare.
It worked for Emily Richmond, a 24-year-old living in Los Angeles who plans to sail solo around the world for two years. She's raised $ 8,142 from 148 people who'll receive gifts such as photos from the trip or a telephone call when she crosses the equator (赤道).
“This was a perfect learning experience for my daughter,” Landon Ray said, adding that he also dreamed of sailing the world himself.
Jason Bitner’s plan for $ 7,500 to pay for a film about the small Midwestern town of La Porte, was so popular that it raised $ 12,153. It's about a record of pictures by a photographer who died in 1971. About a third of his supporters were friends and family. Others include people of La Porte but also people from as far as Australia.
“It’s a creative marketplace,” said Jonathan Scott Chinn, who is collecting $16,500 to make a short film. “You’re given the opportunity to make yourself known, and if it’s really interesting, it’ll take off.”
Independent singer & songwriter Brad Skistimas, 26, has been using the Internet for eight years to promote his one-man band Five Times August. He used Kickstarter to raise $ 20,000 to help his new album Life As A Song.
“It’s a great way to get in touch with fans,” Skistimas said. “I was marketing to my own fans, so I said ‘If you want more music from me, now’s a great time to help me out’” .According to the text, Kickstarter. com is a website _______.
| A．to fund people travelling around the world |
| B．to collect money to realize special dreams |
| C．to help people deal with any trouble |
| D．to support its users to communicate online |
What do we know about Emily Richmond?
| A．She has finished her solo sail. |
| B．She has planned for two years. |
| C．Her solo sail needs about $ 8,142. |
| D．Her solo sail will last about two years. |
Emily Richmond's success showed that ________.
| A．one needs to attract interest when collecting money. |
| B．it is very easy to collect money |
| C．sending photos is good to thank supporters |
| D．it is a hard learning experience |
According to Brad Skistimas, Kickstarter. com is a good place _____.
| A．to make more music |
| B．to make a film about himself |
| C．to make an advertisement about him |
| D．to sell his new album Life As A Song |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．The Internet Is a Big Market |
| B．The Internet Is a Bank for Your Life |
| C．The Internet Helps Sell Your Products |
| D．The Internet Can Help Fund Your Dream |
Wanted，Someone for a Kiss
We’re looking for producers to join us on the sound of London Kiss 100 FM. You’ll work on the station’s music programs. Music production experience in radio is necessary，along with rich knowledge of modern dance music. Please apply in writing to Producer Vacancies，Kiss 100.
Father Christmas
We’re looking for a very special person，preferably over 40，to fill our Father Christmas suit.
Working days：Every Saturday from November 24 to December 15 and every day from December 17 to December 24 except Sundays, 10:30－16:00.
Excellent pay.
Please contact the Enterprise Shopping Centre，Station Parade，Eastbourne.
Accountants Assistant
When you join the team in our Revenue Administration Unit，you will be providing assistance within all parts of the Revenue Division，dealing with post and other general duties. If you are educated to GCSE grade C level we would like to talk to you. This position is equally suitable for a school leaver or for somebody who has office experience.
Wealden District Council
Software Trainer
If you are aged 24-45 and have experience in teaching and training，you could be the person we are looking for. You should be good at the computer and have some experience in program writing. You will be allowed to make your own decisions，and to design courses as well as present them. Pay upwards of￡15，000 for the right person. Please apply by sending your CV (简历) to Mrs R. Oglivie, Palmlace Limited.．Who should you get in touch with if you hope to work in a radio station？
| A．Producer Vacancies，Kiss 100. |
| B．Mrs Oglivie，Palmlace Limited. |
| C．The Enterprise Shopping Centre. |
| D．Wealden District Council. |
．We learn from the ads that the Enterprise Shopping Centre needs a person who________.
| A．is aged between 24 and 40 |
| B．may do some training work |
| C．should deal with general duties |
| D．can work for about a month |
．Which position is open to recent school graduates？
| A．Producer，London Kiss. |
| B．Father Christmas. |
| C．Accountants Assistant. |
| D．Software Trainer. |
．What kind of person would probably apply to Palmlace Limited？
| A．One with GCSE grade C level. |
| B．One with some office experience. |
| C．One having good computer knowledge. |
| D．One trained in producing music programs. |