This morning as I was getting the children ready or school, I helped them prepare breakfast and pack their lunches. I reviewed spelling words with them and made sure that their homework was collected in their bags. I had seen the weather forecast for the day and knew it was going to remain cool all day. I suggested they wear sweaters for the walk to the us stop. My kids chose to repulse my advice. My son decided that all he needed was a T-shirt, not a sweater.
I didn’t force(强迫) them to wear sweaters and we went to the bus stop. It is a full kilometer walk to the top of a treeless hill and the wind felt like a knife cutting through the skin. My children endured(忍受) the cold until halfway, when I gave them with the sweaters I had quietly carried under my arm. Then took them without complaint, and I bit my tongue from saying, “I told you so.”
What I was asking my children to do was to trust me. Trust Mom to have their best interests in mind. Trust Mom to know what she is talking about. Even though they didn’t know that I had read the outdoor thermometer (温度计) before they woke up and I had seen the day’s weather forecast, I wanted them to trust me. By ignoring me, they were saying that they didn’t believe I knew what was best for them. What they knew was that yesterday was a warm enough day for shorts. What they knew was that it was warm enough in the house to wear shorts. Therefore, they felt sure enough to make their own decision on what to wear outside.
Too many times we depend on what we know of yesterday, and how we feel today, and so we make decisions based on them. Too many times we think that we know better, so we can deal with things better. But we are wrong.It can be inferred from the first paragraph that .
| A．the author didn’t believe in her children |
| B．the author took her children to school every morning |
| C．the author’s children always followed her advice |
| D．the author had a very busy morning that day |
The underlined word “repulse” in the first paragraph means .
| A．refuse | B．follow | C．seek | D．doubt |
What can be learned from the passage?
| A．The author’s children always ignore her. |
| B．The author takes great care of the children in life. |
| C．The author’s children always make wrong decisions. |
| D．The author always force her children to wear sweaters. |
The author writes this passage to .
| A．tell the readers how to ask for advice |
| B．offer advice on how to teach children |
| C．explain the importance of trusting others |
| D．give advice on how to make decisions |
Is it wrong to use someone else’s wireless (Wi-Fi) connection? Just recently, a man was arrested for doing just that. At that time, he was sitting in the street with a laptop(便携式电脑) and using an unsecured(无安全保护措施) wireless connection to surf the Net. What do you think about this topic? Listen to the following different views on it.
For a start, if someone is using your Internet service or downloading, this will affect your speed of access or download limit. Also, it’s bad for Internet service providers. They will suffer in the long run because fewer people will pay for an Internet service if they know they can get it for free. And finally, just imagine this: what if the person who is stealing your Internet connection is involved in an illegal activity? I think the police are totally right to arrest these criminals.
— by Sandra Wilkins
Basically, if the person who paid for the service still has everything they paid for, what’s the problem? It’s just like using the light from streetlamps to read your book, or watching someone else’s firework display. It’s not stealing.
Also, if you leave your wireless connection unsecured, then it is your own fault(过错) if someone else uses it. Just as you wouldn’t leave your front door unlocked, or your car door open, neither should you leave your wireless connection open. By leaving your wireless connection open, you are inviting people to use it. Securing your wireless connection is as easy as clicking a few settings on your router(路由器). And finally, haven’t the police got more important crimes to solve? They’re always saying how they haven’t got the manpower to solve real issues. But this is just ridiculous(荒谬的).
— by James Hoarley Why was the man mentioned in the first paragraph arrested?
| A．For stealing someone’s laptop. |
| B．For surfing the Net in the street. |
| C．For destroying others’ wireless connection. |
| D．For using an Internet service without permission. |
What does Sandra Wilkins think of people using others’ Internet service?
| A．He thinks it is unacceptable. |
| B．He thinks it is necessary sometimes. |
| C．He thinks it requires good computer skills. |
| D．He thinks it is good for Internet service providers. |
In James Hoarley’s opinion, ______.
| A．Internet service should be improved. |
| B．it is hard to secure one’s wireless connection. |
| C．using others’ Internet service is not stealing at all. |
| D．people should leave their wireless connection open. |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Wireless connection | B．Wireless worries |
| C．Internet service | D．Internet users |
Say Yes to Reading
Write a one-page report titled “The Best Book I Read This Year” and enter it in the Boy’s Life 2012 “Say Yes to Reading!” contest.
The book can be fiction or nonfiction. But the report has to be in your own words— 500 words tops. Enter in one of these three age categories(类别)：
● 8 years old and younger
● 9 and 10 years old
● 11 years old and older
First-place winners in each age category will receive a $100 gift certificate(礼券) good for any product in the Boy Scouts official retail catalog(零售目录). Second-place winners will receive a $75 gift certificate and third-place winners a $50 gift certificate.
Everyone who enters will get a free patch(眼罩). In coming years, you’ll have the chance to earn different patches.
The contest is open to all Boys’ Life readers. Be sure to include your name, address, age and grade in school on the entry. Send your report to:
Boys’ Life Reading Contest
S306
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
Entries(参赛作品) must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2012 and must include entry information and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Winners of the 2011 reading contest will be announced in the July 2012 issue of Boys’ Life magazine.
And the 2010 first-place winners are:
8 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER
Tyler Bergmann chose “Can You Keep a Secret?” by PJ Petersen as his favorite book. “It talks about honesty and the importance of being trust-worthy, which really matter between friends,” Tyler writes.
9 AND 10 YREARS OLD
Nathaniel Griffis read “The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones” by Rick Riordan. Writes Nathaniel: “As I read, I learned about places I have never been and things I have only imagined.”
11 YEARS OLD AND OLDER
Devin MacGoy, 12 chose “The Red Badge of Courage” by Stephen Grane. “A reader can take away many lessons,” Devin writes.The purpose of the passage is to ________.
| A．persuade kids to enter a contest |
| B．ask kids to read more books |
| C．encourage kids to buy Boys’ Life |
| D．advertise some children’s books |
According to the passage, _________.
| A．each first-place winner will get $100 |
| B．the report should have 500 at least |
| C．whoever enters will get a patch for free |
| D．one can copy some words from the book |
Who learns something about friendship from reading a book?
| A．Tyler Bergmann | B．Nathaniel Griffis |
| C．Devin MacGoy | D．PJ Petersen |
After Nathaniel Griffis read “The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones”, he might be ________.
| A．puzzled | B．worried | C．bored | D．excited |
Alex Wood began fundraising when he was four years old. He sold lemonade and cookies to raise money for a school in Haiti. Later, Alex sent 15 bags of food he collected from his neighbors to a food store near his home which asked for donations(捐赠).
Alex wanted to help more people. He decided to donate to Heifer International, an organization that gives farm animals and farm training to poor people around the world. His goal: $5,000 for a “gift ark”. That amount would mean that 15 pairs of animals would be given to people in need. Those families would agree to give one of their animals’ young to other needy families.
Alex decided that baking was the best way to raise money. He started a business, named it Clean Hands Bakery, and now sells his baked goods year round. In his family’s kitchen, he created all kinds of cookies and cakes. He says his top sellers are lemon pound cakes and chocolate cupcakes. Alex likes the baking as much as the fundraising. “I like it that you can take so many ingredients(原料) that don’t taste good on their own and come up with something amazing,” he says.
In September 2011, Alex reached his goal of $5,000 and bought a gift ark. “I feel absolutely overjoyed that I got to my goal,” he says. “I can’t help everybody by myself, but I can do my part, which I hope will inspire other people to do their part, too.” One of the people Alex has already inspired is his younger brother. “He had people donate to me, instead of giving him a birthday present.” Alex explains. “In the end he donated $200 toward my goal.”
So now that he’s met his goal of a gift ark, will Alex keep baking and fundraising? He says yes. He wants to end world hunger, one cupcake at a time.What did Alex Wood donate to Heifer International?
| A．$5.000 in cash | B．Farm animals |
| C．A gift ark | D．Lemon Hands Bakery |
According to the passage, Clean Hands Bakery ______.
| A．was set up in September 2011 |
| B．uses many unusual ingredients |
| C．belongs to Heifer International |
| D．sells food cooked by Alex himself |
What’s Alex’ younger brother’s attitude towards his fundraising idea?
| A．Doubtful | B．Curious | C．Supportive | D．Uncaring |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．A charity helping the poor. |
| B．Feeding the world by baking. |
| C．The best way to raise money. |
| D．Cooking with different ingredients. |
The first visit to a foreign country that I can remember was when I was about seven years old. We live about 5 miles away from the Canadian border(边界). My family and I went to Parc Safari, Quebec, a wonderful place that has animals and rides. We drove down a nice long road. My sister and I sat in the back of the car, and it was a hatchback(有仓门式后背的汽车) so we opened it up. I remember feeding the animals snacks we had bought for ourselves.
The time we went we were told there would not be monkeys because they had escaped and had not been found. I remember thinking to myself, how cool it would be to see a monkey in our backyard.
Even though the monkeys were not there it was still so much fun. When we reached the area that had camels, giraffes and other animals, I remember one of the camels reached into the car to get our snacks. However, we were a little gross out because the camels seemed to froth(吐白沫) at the mouth and we had camel slobber(口水) all over the car and us.
It was one of the best family vacations that I can remember. It was not too far from home, it was in a different country and it was with my family. I cannot remember if we went on the rides or not but seeing many animals was a great time. Now I am grown up and have a son, and I am planning to go there again. He is 7 years old and I think he is at a great age to enjoy a trip like this. I am sure it has changed a lot over the years but it will still be a great family trip.Where did the author live when he was 7 years old?
| A．In Canada | B．Near the Canadian border |
| C．In the central US | D．In Parc Safari |
We fed the animals something _____.
| A．offered by people living there |
| B．we bought for them |
| C．we prepared for ourselves |
| D．cooked by my sister |
what does the underlined part “gross out” in paragraph 3 probably mean?
| A．surprised | B．excited |
| C．tired | D．uncomfortable |
What does the author intend to do?
| A．To revisit the place he went to at seven. |
| B．To take his 7-year-old son to a zoo. |
| C．To have a family trip in his own country. |
| D．To have a holiday abroad with his parents. |
（共5小题，每小题3分，满分15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。选项中有两项是多余选项。
You may know the benefits of laughter on the mind and spirit. __1__. Norman Cousins used to say that laughter is so beneficial for your body that is like “inner jogging”.
Mayo Clinic Health Letter reports that laughter aids breathing by increasing your breathing rate. It can even help clear mucus (粘液) from your lungs. __2__. It increases circulation and improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues throughout your body. __3__. It helps fight off colds, flu etc. by increasing the concentration of immunoglobulin A (免疫球蛋白A) in your saliva (唾液). And it may help control pain by raising the levels of certain brain chemicals.
Furthermore, it is a natural stress reliever. Have you ever laughter so hard that you doubled over, feel off your chair, spit out your food? __4__. The good news is that you are allowed more than 15 laughs a day! Go ahead and double the dose and make it 30 times today. (You may begin to notice immediate improvement in your relationships!) Then double it again! __5__. People will enjoy being around you as well.
Laughter, it's the best medicine.
A. Laughter is also good for your heart.
B. A good laugh helps you build up you body to protect against diseases.
C. However, it is confusing why laughter makes people so good.
D. However, are you aware of how much a good laugh can help you physically?
E. A good laugh relieves physical tension and stress.
F. You cannot maintain muscle tension when you are laughing!
G. You are likely to feel better and deal with problems more effectively.