After giving a talk at a high school, I was asked to pay a visit to a special student. An illness had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me. I was told it would mean a great deal to him, so I agreed.
During the nine-mile drive to his home, I found out something about Matthew. He had muscular dystrophy (肌肉萎缩症). When he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to five, and then they were told he would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal power lifter, and I knew about overcoming obstacles(阻碍) and going for my dreams.
I spent over an hour talking to Matthew. Never once did he complain or ask, “Why me?” He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams. Obviously, he knew what he was talking about. He didn’t mention that his classmates had made fun of him because he was different. He just talked about his hopes for the future, and how one day he wanted to lift weights with me. When we had finished talking, I went to my briefcase and pulled out the first gold medal I had won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would. He looked at it for a moment, then took it off and handed it back to me. He said, “You are a champion（冠军）. You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you.”
Last summer I received a letter from Matthew’s parents telling me that Matthew had passed
away. They wanted me to have a letter he had written to me a few days before:
Dick,
My mum said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me. I also want to let you know that the doctors tell me that I don’t have long to live any more, but I still smile as much as I can.
I told you someday that I would go to the Olympics and win a gold medal, but I know now I
will never get to do that. However, I know I’m a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you. Thank you for loving me.
Yours,
Matthew How old was Matthew when they met?
| A．Five. | B．Ten. | C．Thirteen. | D．Eighteen. |
The underlined sentence in the third paragraph probably means that _______.
| A．the boy never complained about not getting a medal |
| B．the boy never complained about not being able to go to school |
| C．the boy never complained why the author had never come to see him before |
| D．the boy never complained about how unlucky he was to have this disease |
Matthew didn’t accept the author’s medal because _________.
| A．he thought it was too expensive |
| B．he was sure that he could win one in the future |
| C．he thought it was of no use to him as he would die soon |
| D．he would not be pitied by others |
From the passage we learn that _________.
| A．Matthew was an athlete |
| B．Matthew was an optimistic and strong-minded boy |
| C．The author used to have the same disease as Matthew had |
| D．Matthew became a champion before he died |
The English are famous for their manners． The phrase, “Manners maketh the man” was coined by Englishman William of Wykeham back in 1324, but they’re just as important today． Books are written on the subject, advice columns in magazines tell people how to behave, and “finishing schools” still exist to ensure that young girls become young “ladies”．
The best example of English manners is in their mastery of the art of forming a queue． It is a popular joke in England （the land of sporting failures） to say, “if only queuing was an Olympic sport, we’d win hands down．” No one knows exactly how and when it started, but queuing plays an important role in the English social make-up． School children are taught to queue for roll-call, assembly and lunch, and English people across the land form orderly queues at shops, banks, cinemas and bus-stops every day． The English obviously aren’t the only people who queue, but they seem to do it better than anyone else． As one visitor said, “I have travelled across Europe, the Middle and Far East and nowhere have I seen the single-file queues which are formed in England．”
The English are also famously polite when it comes to language． Whereas many other notions are more direct in their communication, the English prefer a more indirect form of asking for things． For example, an American who wants to talk to a colleague might say, “Got a minute?”; however an English person will often use a more indirect means might of requesting the chat, “Sorry to bother you, but would you possibly have a minute or so to have a quick chat if you don’t mind, please?”
The English also love to apologize for things． When squeezing past someone, people say “sorry”． And they will apologize if you bump into them, “whoops! Sorry! My fault．” In fact, no one seems to say “sorry” as much as the English: “sorry I’m late． /Sorry I forgot to call you last night．/I’m sorry you didn’t get the e-mail．” And so on． They also like to use “please” and “thank you” a lot． In a shop, they will say, “I’d like a packet of crisp, please． Thanks．” British students thank their lectures, a
nd bosses often thank their employees for doing their jobs． Why does “finishing schools” still exist to help young girls become “ladies”?
| A．Because the English mind their manners very much． |
| B．Because the English parents want to marry their daughters to the royal family． |
| C．Because the English girls are so rude that they need to be taught to be polite． |
| D．Because the English government ensures their existence． |
The underlined sentence in paragraph2 implies ________________．
| A．The English love the Olympics very much． |
| B．The English spend nothing winning an Olympic medal． |
| C．The English are best at queuing． |
| D．The English prefer to queue with their hands down． |
According to the passage, if Americans say “Waiter! Could I have another fork, please?” how will the English express such a meaning?
| A．Excuse me! Give me another fork, please! |
| B．Excuse me! I have to be a bother, but would you mind awfully changing this fork, please? |
| C．Hi! Would you mind giving me another fork? |
| D．Waiter! Come here and change the fork! |
According to the passage, why do the employers often thank their employees for doing their jobs?
| A．The employees can bring them a lot of benefits． |
| B．The employees finish their jobs perfectly． |
| C．The English employers’ good manners lead them to do so． |
| D．The employers do it as a result of the company’s regulation． |
Did you know that there are gifts that will multiply your happiness when you give them away? Here are five of those gifts． Giving these gifts will allow you to share with others your most unique treasure: your real self． Each gift will return to you many times．
1． Share appreciation
Tell someone how much you appreciate the faith they've shown in you． Thank them sincerely for being part of your life． Tell them how much they are needed．
Feeling appreciated is one of the most important needs that people have． When you share with someone your appreciation and gratitude, they will not forget you． Appreciation will return to you many times．
2． Share time
Balance your time expenditures （耗费）so you can spend time with the people that you love． Support local organizations by sharing your special talents． Volunteer time for projects that benefit others in your community, country, and world．
When we slow down and observe our thoughts closely, we will sometimes uncover gifts and talents we didn't know we had． Sharing time and talents can result in discoveries that bring happiness beyond measure．
3． Share knowledge and ideas
Tell someone about a great book that you read so they can benefit from it too． Teach a new concept or idea that you've learned．
One of the best ways to strengthen new concepts in your mind is to share them with others． The more often you share what you've learned, the stronger that information will become in your memory． Sharing knowledge also provides solutions to problems． The more knowledge we share, the more knowledge we receive in return．
4． Share friendship
Acknowledge someone's strengths． Let them know that you are willing to be there when they need you． Visit someone you haven't seen for a long time． Telephone friends or relatives who live far away． Introduce two friends who don't know each other．
Bringing one individual into another's life can result in tremendous changes for both people, and for you． We succeed with the help of others． People grow by growing together． If you'd like to have many friends, then share friendship with others generously．
5． Share kindness
Perform a random act of kindness for someone: a smile, compliment, or a favor just for fun． These will multiply and spread very rapidly．
There is a powerful quote by Stephen Jay Gould who said, “The center of human nature is rooted in ten thousand ordinary acts of kindness that define our days．” Kindness is priceless． The love, kindnesses, and value we have given authentically to others will be our remaining treasures at the end of life．
Think about this statement by Norman MacEwan: “Happiness is not so much in having as sharing． We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give．” What is the best title of this passage？
| A．We want to share． | B．Give your presents away． |
| C．We make a life by giving． | D．Don’t be mean to give． |
What can we learn from Stephen Jay Gould’s words？
| A．We all come from a world which is in a harmonious atmosphere． |
| B．Everybody’s deep heart is filled with kindness at first, which decides our present life． |
| C．Kindness is the most important thing in our daily life． |
| D．We need kindness all the time． |
For
those who are living a life on the go, what suggestion will the writer probably give to them?
| A．Tell the people around you how much you love them． |
| B．No one is an isolated island． We succeed with the help of others |
| C．The more knowledge we share, the more knowledge we receive in return． |
| D．Slow down and enjoy the life, which may bring you a brand new world with happiness． |
Where can you probably find this passage?
| A．Magazines | B．Newspapers | C．Guide books | D．Scientific reports |
The old couple who lived in a cottage on the edge of the village were envied for the happiness of their marriage． They never quarreled and were always affectionate to one another． Sadly, after thirty-four years of this happiness, the husband became ill and died．
The wife was overcome with grief． Her children tried to comfort her, but to no avail． Her neighbors tried to comfort her, but with similar lack of success． Weeks and months went by, and still the woman was grieving; tears fell down her cheeks from morning till night．
Then a holy man came to the village． People told him about the woman, and asked him to try to help her． The holy man went to the woman’s house． Dressed in his rough woolen robe, he sat down with the grieving widow and listened, carefully, to her story． When she had spilled out all her sorrow, he reached into one of the deep pockets in his robe, and drew out a tiny, little mustard（芥末） seed． “I think I may have a cure for your grief,” he said． “I want you to go round the people in this region, and look for a family that has no sorrows． When you find this family, give them this little mustard seed, and then come back to me．
The woman set off in search of such a family． She visited every home in the district, and talked to the people． She listened to their stories, just as the holy man had listened to hers． In time, she almost forgot about the mustard seed, because every single family she met was carrying some kind of sorrow．
One day, she happened to meet the holy man again, and he stopped to ask how she was feeling． She was surprised at first, at his question, and then she suddenly remembered the mustard seed, still safely in her purse． “I’m sorry, I haven’t found a family without sorrows yet,” she told him． “But you yourself are cured of your grief,” he smiled． “The mustard seed is a great healer!”What does the underlined word “grieving” mean?
| A．amused | B．sad | C．angry | D．astonished |
What did the holy man ask her to do to end her sorrow?
| A．to go to church for help． |
| B．to live with the family that has no sorrows with the mustard seed． |
| C．to help others so that she can feel the happiness from the bottom of her heart． |
| D．to find a family that is always happy and give them the mustard seed before returning to him． |
How did the woman treat the families she visited?
| A．She was a good listener． |
| B．She helped them to solve the problems they met． |
| C．She gave every family a mustard seed．． |
| D．She told them her unfortunate story． |
Who on the earth heals the woman’s grief?
| A．The mustard seed | B．Her children |
| C．The families in the district | D．She herself |
Beauty has always been regarded as something praiseworthy. Almost everyone thinks attractive people are happier and healthier, have better marriages and have more respectable jobs. Personal advisors give them better advice for finding jobs. Even judges are softer on attractive defendants (被告). But in the executive（主管的）circle, beauty can become a disadvantage.
While attractiveness is a positive factor for a man on his way up the executive ladder, it is harmful to a woman. Handsome male executives were considered having more honesty than plainer men; effort and ability were thought to lead to their success. Attractive female executives were considered to have less honesty than unattractive ones; their success was attributed not to ability but to factors such as luck.
All unattractive women executives were thought to have more honesty and to be more capable than the attractive female executives. Interestingly, though, the rise of the unattractive overnight successes was connected more to personal relationships and less to ability than was that of attractive overnight successes.
Why are attractive women not thought to be able? An attractive woman considered to be more feminine (女性的) has an advantage in traditionally female jobs, but an attractive woman in a traditionally manly position appears to lack the “manly” qualities required.
This is true even in politics. “When the only clue is how he or she looks, people treat men and women differently,” says Anne Bowman, who recently published a study on the effects of attractiveness on political candidates. She asked 125 undergraduates to rank two groups of photographs, one of men and one of women, in order of attractiveness. Then the students were told the photographs were of candidates for political offices. They were asked to rank them again, in the order they would vote for them.
The results showed that attractive males completely defeated unattractive men, but the women who had been ranked most attractive invariably (无例外地) received the fewest votes.In traditioally female jobs, attractiveness ______.
| A．adds to thne female qualities required |
| B．makes women look more honest and capable |
| C．is of primary importance to women |
| D．often enables women to succeed quickly |
Bowman’s experiment shows that when it comes to politics, attractiveness ______.
| A．turns out to be a disadvantage to men |
| B．is more of a disadvantage than an advantage to women |
| C．has as little effect on men as on women |
| D．affects men and women alike |
The author writes this passage to ______.
| A．emphasize the importance of appearance |
| B．give advice to job-seekers who are attractive |
| C．demand equal rights for women |
| D．discuss the negative aspects of being attractive |
A Beautiful Mind
A mathematician who goes mad is not a subject most directors consider commercially attractive, but then Ran Howard isn’t among most directors. Despite an impressive list of credits, A Beautiful Mind is his most successful work to date, combining a psychological drama with a moving love story to produce a film that is as interesting as it is entertaining.
The Oscar winning Russell Crowe has put himself in line for further honors with his acting John Nash, the Nobel Prize winning mathematician troubled by schizophrenia (精神分裂症). A Beautiful Mind pictures Nash as an unusual hero，not just because of his academic achievements but also because of the courage he displays while battling his illness．
In 1947, Nash was one of many great young minds at Princeton. “To find a truly original idea is the only way to distinguish myself,” the proud and determined student declared. His exploration of such an idea afforded him little time for the normal socializing. His shyness and straight forward approach brought him few friends.
After finally hitting on a revolutionary new idea, Nash’s career took off and his reputation as secured. He balanced research work with teaching, which is where he met the bright and beautiful student Alicia (played by Jennifer Connelly). Things in his life were going well when his talent for code breaking brought him to the attention of the military that employed him during the early stage of the cold war with Russia. However, the stress of his work made Nash’s illness develop．
Crowe’s performance is perfect. He and Connelly ignite (make something exciting) the film’s passionate love story and Connelly’s wonderful performance makes the audience moved by Alicia, whose courage, strength and faith in her husband are the primary reasons for his recovery.This passage is most probably ________．
| A．a book review | B．a movie review | C．a movie poster | D．an advertisement |
Which can replace the underlined phrase “hitting on” in the fourth paragraph?
| A．coming up with | B．coming on | C．putting on | D．putting up with |
The following statements are true EXCEPT that _______．
| A．John Nash did not go mad totally |
| B．Ran Howard is an outstanding director |
| C．the stress of the academic work caused Nash’s illness |
| D．Nash’s concentration on his work and his shyness brought him few friends |
We can infer from the text that _______．
| A．John Nash volunteered to serve in the army in spite of his illness |
| B．John Nash gave up his career when troubled by schizophrenia |
| C．Russell Crowe won another Oscar Award after this movie |
| D．without Alicia, John Nash wouldn’t have recovered from his illness |