Derrius Quarles, 19, had an unhappy childhood. But the Chicago teen didn’t give up. He tried his best and won $1 million in college scholarships (奖学金)! Now Derrius is a successful college student with a bright future.
When Derrius was 4, his father was killed. His mother couldn’t take care of him because of taking drugs. Derrius and his 9-year-old brother sometimes had to steal food to eat. Derrius felt different from other kids. In seventh grade, Derrius went to live in a foster home (寄养家庭). His foster parents weren’t nice to him. They told him that he’d never be anything in life.
Derrius didn’t do his best in school. The summer after ninth grade, that changed. Derrius had signed up for a biology class. He didn’t go to class the first day. On the second day, he showed up late. His teacher took him outside. She told him he was smart, but that he was wasting his potential (潜力). The talk inspired him and he planned to prove that he could be anything if he worked hard enough.
Adults at a summer program helped Derrius find out about scholarships he could earn to pay for college. In his senior year, Derrius filled out lots of applications. He told his friends, “You’re not going to see me for a long time.” Derrius’s hard work paid off. He won more than $1 million in scholarships! He has a lot to be proud of. But he’s most proud of helping others. Derrius gives speeches to teens, telling them how to find scholarships. In high school, Derrius got help buying a computer. He wanted to help others who needed them. Last year, he gave two laptops to high schoolstudents. There’s a lot of work in his future. Derrius doesn’t mind — hard work has got him where he is today. He knows it can take him anywhere. From Paragraphs 2 and 3, we can learn that Derrius _____.
| A．always studied hard in school |
| B．lived in the same foster home with his brother |
| C．hated his parents very much |
| D．was encouraged a lot by his biology teacher |
The underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refers to _____.
| A．great success | B．a scholarship |
| C．hard work | D．a computer |
What kind of person do you think Derrius is?
| A．Lazy but kind-hearted. |
| B．Selfish and naughty. |
| C．Confident but troublesome（带来麻烦的）. |
| D．Determined and generous（慷慨的）. |
What does the author want to tell us?
| A．The way to win a scholarship to a college. |
| B．The importance of family background. |
| C．Never forget people who have helped you. |
| D．Hard work pays off sooner or later. |
One day I heard that one of my dear friends had lost his mother. This made me sad, for my friend was very close to his mother. He had been by her side as she traveled through her long and hard journey with cancer. At this time, many memories about my loved ones that had passed away came flooding to me. Finally these memories passed, but it was really sad to think that my friend would have to go through the pain.
Three times I tried to write an email to my friend and three times words failed me. I am a person who is not often lost for words and I decided to have a sleep. Upon waking up I could hardly wait for my computer to work, the words I needed were there. I was still left with a heavy heart although I had sent an email.
Everything in this universe is balanced and indeed it is. Three days later, I received his reply letter. I was happy to hear that he’d been admitted to (录取) Cambridge University. It served as a gentle reminder for me that my friend would be okay and that life would go on.
Everything in life is balanced; the lowest feelings change places with the highest feelings. Without the lows, we would never appreciate the highs. No matter how dark the clouds seem to be, the sunshine is always there and just waiting for the opportunity to shine through. When the author learnt her friend had lost his mother, she ______.
| A．gave him some money |
| B．wrote an email to him |
| C．went to visit him |
| D．went for a journey with him |
What good news did the author’s friend receive?
| A．He received the author’s email. |
| B．He was told that life would go on. |
| C．He would go to Cambridge University. |
| D．His life would go back to normal again |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
| A．The author wrote four emails to her friend. |
| B．The mother of the author’s friend died from cancer. |
| C．The author’s friend is a teacher in Cambridge University. |
| D．The author felt relaxed after sending the email. |
From the text, we can learn that the author is ______.
| A．sincere and warm-hearted |
| B．proud and confident |
| C．serious and friendly |
| D．funny and responsible |
The author aims to tell us that ______.
| A．life is not fair to everybody |
| B．time waits for no man |
| C．everyone has good and bad times in life |
| D．where there is a will, there is a way |
（共5小题；每小题1分，满分5分）
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Five Smart Habits of Successful Children
Have you ever wondered what actions make the most difference in your children's lives?
Children don't have to be smart to succeed. They don't have to be born rich and famous. All they need is the right outlook and a few smart habits.
Successful children make friends wherever they go. Children who learn to get along with others from an early age are more successful in life. 1Without them, we'd have no support. Whatever the goal is, friends are needed to achieve it. Do your children a favor by encouraging social interaction early.
2They don't just hope for success; they are certain of it. They don't complain. They have a smile on their face and get on with the business of living. They feel pain just like the other children. The difference is that they don't let it hinder(妨碍) their progress.
Successful children become successful because they never give up. They fall. They fail. 3The difference is that they use their mistakes the way they were intended. They embrace failure because it pushes them forward.
Successful children ignore the naysayer (反对者). They don't worry about what other people think. They follow the path that is right for them, regardless of gossip. 4They are too busy working towards their goals. They do have concern for the feelings of others.
Successful children share their success. They don't forget all the people who helped them get where they were going. 5They don't criticize（批评）and reject（抛弃） those who are struggling. They take them by the hand and guide them up the ladder.
| A．Do you want to be a successful child? |
| B．Social skills are vital（重要的） to human survival. |
| C．Successful children look on the bright side. |
| D．They make just as many mistakes as the other children. |
E. They take the time to teach others what they have learned.
F. They don't engage in gossip either, because they don't have time for it.
G. In fact, they don't even have to become rich and famous.
In the near future, people in some parts of the world will watch a new kind of television. It is called the high definition television or the HD-TV. The main difference between an HD-TV and a normal television is the picture. It is more clear and detailed. This is because the HD-TV has many more points and lines that make a television image. Every color television picture contains thousands of red, green and blue points. They all come together as an image in the eye of the person watching. The points are organized in lines that go across the television screen. There are more than five hundred lines in a normal television. The HD-TV has two times as many. To get this clear picture, you must have a big screen. Experts say people using a small screen will see little difference.
The HD-TV also has clear sound. It is like the sound on a CD. All these improvements make an HD-TV very costly. One kind in Japan now sells for more than twenty thousand dollars .A major problem with the HD-TV is its broadcast signal（传播信号.The signal is bigger than normal because it carries more electronic information. What is the main difference between an HD-TV and a normal television? It is .
| A．the picture | B．the shape | C．the voice | D．the weight |
What is a color TV image?
| A．It is made up of thousands of red, green, and blue points. |
| B．Points are organized in lines that go across the TV screen. |
| C．It is a black and white picture |
| D．Both A and B |
How many lines does an HD-TV have?
| A．Over 250 | B．More than 500 |
| C．More than 1,000 | D．About 250 |
What should you do if you want to get a clear and detailed picture from an HD-TV?
A. You must have the bigger signal for the HD-TV.
B. You have to get a big screen.
C. You should have a compact disc player.
D. Both A and B.
SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Captain Good Fellow
Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Good Fellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00, Free.
Walking Tour of the Town
Forget your worries on Saturday morning. Take a beautiful walk and learn about local history. Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30. Wear comfortable shoes!
Films at the Museum
Two European films will be shown Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See Broken Window at 1:30. The workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898.
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 pm.
Take Me out to the Ballgame
It’s October, and tonight is your last chance to see the Redbirds this year. Get your tickets at the gate. It might be cold, don’t forget sweaters and jackets.
Do You Want to Hear “The Zoo”
“The Zoo”, a popular rock group from Australia, will give their first US concert tomorrow night at 8:00 at Rose Hall, City College. You can probably eat Chinese, Italian, and Arab food____.
| A．at the front entrance of City Hall |
| B．at the Ballgame |
| C．at 5:00 pm |
| D．at Central Park on Saturday |
The Redbirds ballgame_____.
| A．is in the afternoon | B．is outside |
| C．is at the gate | D．might be cold |
“The Zoo” is _____.
| A．a park with lots of animals |
| B．US concert |
| C．a music group |
| D．going to give the concert at 8:00 am |
Chinese high school students have the longest study hours compared to their peers(同龄人)in Japan , the US and South Korea. A survey conducted by the four countries said.
The survey, released by the China Youth and Children Research Center on Monday, was jointly conducted with instructions in the four countries in September-October of 2008. It covers nearly 4,000 students in senior schools and vocational high schools in the four countries. About 78.3 percent of Chinese students said they spend more than eight hours at school and 56.7 percent said they study at least two more hours each day at home .by contrast, only 24.7 percent of their peers in the US , 20.5percent in Japan and 15.4 in Korea study more than two hour s after school.
Around 60 percent of all students surveyed said their burden for studies was the heaviest. However the Japanese felt their burden was the worst with respondents (应答者) reaching 79.2 percent
Among the five biggest headaches for young people in the four countries were: 0ver-sheduling ranked first, followed by a boring leisure life, unsatisfied appearance, little time for exercise and making friends, and no spare money
“Moderate(适度的)study pressure can better drive students to develop, however, too much will press their development space, and can even cause harm to their physical and psychological health” the survey said
“Balancing their studies and all round development is a very important task” it said. What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Chinese high school students study more |
| B．high school students need more rest |
| C．heavy burdens of high school students |
| D．big headaches of high school students |
Which of the following is not true about the survey?
| A．it took about two months. |
| B．it was conducted in four countries. |
| C．Nearly 4,000 students took part in it. |
| D．it was done only in senior high schools. |
Which of the following troubles the high school students most?
| A．being busy |
| B．feeling bored |
| C．lacking pocket money |
| D．feeling unsatisfied with their teachers |
According to the survey, ________
| A．study pressure is harmful to students’ health |
| B．students need to achieve all round development |
| C．the Chinese students felt their burden for studies were the heaviest |
| D．most students are suffering from physical and psychological health problems |