Grace Kane hangs onto an Olympic dream of clinging to a granite (花岗岩) wall by her fingertips 70 feet from the ground. The fearless girl is only 10, but already has scaled great heights in the sport of rock climbing.
Last week, Kane won a bronze in the 11andyounger sport class at the USA Climbing Youth National Championships in Atlanta. She was the only competitor of the 31 there with no climbing coach or topflight facilities in which to train. Climbing will become an exhibition at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil. The hope of enthusiasts is that the sport will gain full status in 2020.“I’m already training for that,” said Kane. “Climbing is my passion, my love, and I want to make something of it.”
Her dad took her to climb rocks on her fourth birthday for the first time and today he can’t keep up with her, “It’s the freedom to let loose,” she said. “When I’m up there, I’m so focused and don’t hear anything. I always feel comforted knowing people are supporting me.”
The bronze in Atlanta qualified Kane for the USA team and November’s International Championships in Ecuador. That’s a trip she might have to miss because it’s too expensive.
Kane held a backyard music concert---she played the guitar and the piano and wrote inspirational songs---and raised $600 for her $1,500 trip to Atlanta. She’s also been sponsored by a shoe company, but must rely heavily on donations from family and friends for travel expenses.
Her mom Heather Kane said the family has chosen “to do whatever we need to help her achieve her goals”. One of Grace’s biggest challenges is finding balance in her life. There’s school, her music and church to fit around climbing.
“Climbing is going to mean sacrificing things other kids might pursue,” Grace said. “But it doesn’t bother me. It’s like playing the piano; you can’t take a break or you’ll lose your touch.”What would be the best title of the passage?
| A．Rock climbing gains popularity |
| B．Grace Kane likes challenges |
| C．A young climber follows her dream |
| D．An amazing victory for a young rock climber |
We can learn from the second paragraph that rock climbing ________.
| A．is not an exhibition at the Olympics now |
| B．is an official event at the Olympics now |
| C．is not open to children |
| D．will gain full status in 2020 |
Which of the following is TRUE about Grace Kane?
| A．She is only interested in rock climbing. |
| B．She is a girl with many talents. |
| C．Rock climbing has affected her study. |
| D．She has won gold medals in several matches. |
One of Grace’s biggest challenges is to ________.
| A．find a capable coach for her |
| B．get qualified for the USA team |
| C．raise enough money for International competitions |
| D．keep balance between rock climbing and other activities |
When you go to St. Petersburg, the number of at-tractions can seem overwhelming. If you’re short on time, or just want to make sure to hit the highlights, these are the top must-see sights in St. Petersburg.
The Hermitage Museum
The Hermitage Museum is one of the most important sights to see for any visitor to St. Petersburg. There you can see lots of different paintings of old masters inside the Hermitage. Prepare to come face-to-face with classic Western artists.
The Russian Museum
The Russian Museum holds one of the largest collections of Russian art in the world. View Russian art creations through the ages, from Byzantine (拜占庭)-style icons to the Socialist Realism of Stalin’s times.
Kizhi Island
Kizhi Island is an open-air museum of wooden buildings from the Karelia Region of Russia. These impressive structures are made without any nails (钉子) — the wood fits together with joints and grooves (沟槽).
Peterhof
Peterhof is as beautiful as it is fun. You’ll be charged for admission (门票), but go to Peterhof when the fountains (喷泉) are working — during the day in the summer. They are shut off in winter as well as in the evenings.
The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood
Love it or hate it, the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood is an attractive must-see sight. The beautiful look may make your eyes brighten, and the paintings inside the church will make you say “Wow!”
The Bronze Horseman Statue
The Bronze Horseman is a part of Russian Culture and a symbol of St. Petersburg. Made famous by Alexander Pushkin (普希金), this statue of Peter the Great sitting on his horse can truly show Peter the Great’s influence on the Russian idea of greatness.If you’re interested in paintings, you’d better go to _____.
| A．the Hermitage Museum and Peterhof |
| B．the Hermitage Museum and the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood |
| C．Kizhi Island and the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood |
| D．the Russian Museum and Kizhi Island |
The man on the Bronze Horse refers to _____.
| A．Peter the Great | B．Alexander Pushkin |
| C．Byzantine | D．Stalin |
What can we know from the passage?
| A．The fountains in Peterhof can be seen all year round. |
| B．The largest collection of Russian art is in the Hermitage Museum. |
| C．The buildings on Kizhi Island are made of wood. |
| D．You can visit Peterhof free of charge. |
The main purpose of this passage is to _____.
| A．show the wonderful history of Russia |
| B．introduce the famous buildings in Russia |
| C．persuade artists to study St. Petersburg |
| D．attract tourists to visit St. Petersburg |
One day I was walking home along the street with my iPod on, when suddenly my headphones(耳机) were knocked off my head and a man threw his arm around my neck, saying “Just be quiet.” I was being attacked, and this man’s arm was gripping (紧夹) onto me! I started screaming and tried to pull him off me, but failed. He was forcing me to walk towards the back of an auto repair shop and he just kept saying: “Be quiet.”
My mind froze with fear. Then I heard my great-grandmother’s voice in my head. She was saying: “Come on now, I know you are stronger than that!” She was the rock in our family until she died four years ago.
I have never had any self-defense(自卫) training, but I went for it—I let out a loud scream as I kicked my leg back into his shin(胫骨)! He let go of me and I ran off. When I looked back to see if he was running after me, I saw he was running in the opposite direction. Then I ran like crazy to a nearby drugstore.
I asked the girl at the counter for the phone and called my mom. She picked me up five minutes later and I explained what happened through sobs. “I am calling the police!” She exclaimed. When we got home, two officers were waiting for us and I told them what had happened.
After my experience, I was afraid to do anything. Things slowly got better, but I still don’t like anyone going near my neck.
The fear isn’t totally gone—after all, the guy is still out there somewhere. But I had a new understanding of my own strength. I never expected to be able to fight off an attacker. I am stronger than I realized. How did the author get rid of the man?
| A．Her great-grandmother came and helped. |
| B．She used all her strength to pull him off her. |
| C．Her loud scream scared the attacker and people came to help. |
| D．Her great-grandmother’s words gave her the strength to defend herself. |
After the author escaped from the man, _________.
| A．she called the police |
| B．she called her mother |
| C．she screamed to get more attention |
| D．she looked back to remember his appearance |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The accident left no influence on the author now. |
| B．The attack made the author more confident in a way. |
| C．The author Suddenly remembered some self-defense moves. |
| D．The author was so frightened that she did nothing to fight back. |
What might be the author’s purpose of writing this passage?
| A．To show the importance of self-defense training. |
| B．To warn teenagers of possible dangers on the way to school. |
| C．To show how brave she was while she was being attacked at that time. |
| D．To share her experience and tell us that we are perhaps not as weak as we thought we were. |
I'm not so sure I like my friends any more. I used to like them-to be honest. We'd have lunch, talk on the phone or exchange e-mails, and they all seemed normal enough. But then came Facebook and I was introduced to a sad fact: many of my friends have dark sides that they had kept from me.
Today my friends show off the unpleasant aspects of their personalities via Facebook. No longer hidden, they're thrown in my face like TV commercials—unavoidable and endless advertisements for the worst of their personalities.
Take Fred. If you were to have lunch with him, you'd find him warm, and down-to-earth. Read his Facebook and you realize he's an unbearable, food-obsessed bore. He'd pause to have a cup of coffee on his way to save a drowning man—and then write about it.
Take Andy. You won't find a smarter CEO anywhere, but now he's a CEO without a company to run. So he plays “Mafia Wars” on Facebook. He's doing well-level 731.Thanks to Facebook, I know he's playing about 18 hours a day. Andy, you've run four companies—and this is how you spend your downtime? What happened to golf? What happened to getting another job?
Take Liz. She is positive that the H1N1 vaccine will kill us all and that we should avoid it. And then comes Chris who likes to post at least 20 times a day on every website he can find, so I get to read his thoughts twice, once on Facebook and once on Twitter.
In real life, I don't see these sides of people. Face to face, my friends show me their best. They're nice, smart people. But facing Facebook, my friends are like a blind date which goes horribly wrong.
I'm left with a dilemma. Who is my real friend? Is it the Liz I have lunch with or the anti-vaccine lunatic(狂人) on Facebook? Is it the Fred I can grab a sandwich with or the Fred who weeps if he's at a party and the wine isn't up to his standards?Who is opposed to the H1N1 vaccine in the text?
| A．Fred. | B．Andy. | C．Liz. | D．Chris. |
According to the text, Facebook tends to ________.
| A．present another side of people |
| B．offer some food for free |
| C．show endless advertisements |
| D．get you to attend more parties |
The text is developed mainly by ________.
| A．giving examples | B．following the time order |
| C．listing figures | D．raising questions |
The author focuses on the question of “________”.
| A．what is Facebook? | B．what happened to golf? |
| C．who is my real friend? | D．who can help me? |
There are many great movie directors of all time and the following are five of those who have largely impressed audience with their body of work.
As a member of the New Hollywood gang, Francis Coppola is best remembered for The Godfather series. His decision to cast Marlon Brando in the lead also met with fierce opposition from the studio bosses. Good sense became popular, and The Godfather went on to become one of the most memorable movies ever. Critics may point out that he has become less creative after his seventies, but try as one might, no one can possibly take the place of this great director's work.
Stanley Kubrick's movies focus on the themes like sci-fi, horror, dark humor and war. He used symbolism in most of his movies, giving us some wonderful screen visuals, as shown in 2001: A Space Odyssey. His actors in Hollywood complained about the endless number of retakes, but they appreciated the performance he milked out of them. People argue about films like Lolita, A Clockwork Orange and Paths of Glory, but these are now seen as classics.
Steven Spielberg is a great success at the box office, and he is one of the world's most popular filmmakers today. As the creator of classics like Schindler's List, Jurassic Park, ET, Indiana Jones series, Jaws, Saving Private Ryan, no one can win his hold over the audience. His critics accuse him of being emotional and over the top, but the fact remains that his movies attract the audience and set the cash registers ringing.
Woody Allen is a director who directs movies full of crime and hate. This comic genius has given us Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters and Midnight in Paris, which have also become classical. His movies constantly include characters who arouse the audience's sympathy and laughter at the same time, as they set out on a journey of self-discovery. Hollywood star power has never fazed Allen. Thankfully, awards and honors do not interest him, which results in creativity that is original.What do the directors mentioned in the passage have in common?
| A．They are interested in awards for their works. |
| B．They are members of the New Hollywood gang. |
| C．They have created a lot of movies taken as classics. |
| D．They focus their themes on the negative side of society. |
Stanley Kubrick's works include the following except ________.
| A．Midnight in Paris | B．2001: A Space Odyssey |
| C．A Clockwork Orange | D．Paths of Glory |
It is implied in the underlined sentence that Steven Spielberg ________.
| A．was successful in amusing the audience |
| B．succeeded in making a great box office |
| C．became much better at creating classics |
| D．had set a cash register working for himself |
What will be discussed in the paragraph that follows this passage?
| A．Their contribution to society. |
| B．The difference between the directors. |
| C．Another famous movie director. |
| D．More great movies of the directors. |
Jason sat on his couch as he normally did, not knowing that his life would change on that beautiful autumn day. As he left his house, he thought of everything that he needed to buy, made a list, and then got into his car. As he began to drive, his mind came to the fight that he had with his girlfriend. When he finally began to focus back on his driving, it was just a moment too late. He had hit a car and there was no way to stop what happened next.
The smell of gasoline filled the air, and he knew that he needed to get out of the car. Strong arms began to pull him out and he saw a woman who was screaming. A stranger handed a child to her and the child was injured. Afterwards, they were taken to the hospital.
By chance, he was in a room on the same floor as the mother and child. For the first time in his life, he was truly sorry. He made his way to their room, looked at the upset mother straight in the eye and said simply, “Please forgive me and I didn't mean for this to happen.” The woman stood there, completely shocked, and said, “It took a lot of courage for you to ask for forgiveness, and my daughter is always saying to me to just forgive and forget. I will give you forgiveness.”
Jason began to cry, and not knowing what to do, he threw his arms around the mother of the injured girl and told her that he would do anything they needed. To make it easier for him, the woman told him her and her daughter's names. Then they sat there and talked for hours, watching her daughter sleep. They are now friends and are enjoying the wonderful friendship, all because of forgiveness.Jason hit a car because ________.
| A．he had just started to learn driving. |
| B．the brakes of his car weren't working properly |
| C．he was fighting with his girlfriend |
| D．he was absent-minded while driving |
When Jason asked for forgiveness, what kind of feeling did the woman have?
| A．Hopeless. | B．Surprised. |
| C．Ashamed. | D．Regretful. |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?
| A．The woman was sorry for her daughter in the hospital. |
| B．Jason learned how to forgive from the woman. |
| C．Jason apologized to the woman and got forgiveness. |
| D．Jason went to hospital to seek advice from doctors. |
What does the author try to tell us?
| A．To forgive is to set yourself free. |
| B．Forgiving doesn't mean forgetting. |
| C．Love is the source of forgiveness. |
| D．Forgiveness benefits both those who give and receive. |