To win an Oscar is an achievement at any age. To do so at 22, as Jennifer Lawrence has, is just amazing. Recently, the American star won Best Actress at this year's Academy Awards for her role in the film The Silver Linings Playbook. According to Time magazine's Richard Corliss, Lawrence is that rare young actress who "lends a mature intelligence to any role".
Though Lawrence has found great success through her big screen work, Lawrence wasn't sure what she really liked doing before the age of 14. She thought she'd go to college and maybe find a career as a doctor or a travel agent.
Lawrence's two brothers were star athletes and one of them was a straight-A student. Unlike them, she suffered through school, never quite finding where she belonged. However, during a trip to New York, Lawrence suddenly realized that she wanted to be an actress. When she was enjoying the beautiful city, a model seeker asked if he could take her picture, and the next day he called her in for an audition (试镜).
"I read the script and it was the first time I had that feeling like I understand this," Lawrence said. "Within 20 minutes, in the cab ride from the hotel room, I decided I didn't want to be a model. In fact, I wanted to be an actress." Having appreciated this young lady's performance, the agency was so impressed with her reading that they signed her on the spot. But she insisted on finishing high school so she could give her full attention to her acting career.
Lawrence burst onto the Hollywood scene last year with The Hunger Games, which established her as the highest-grossing (票房最高的) female action hero of all time. Rolling Stone called her “the most talented young actress in America". What can we know about Jennifer Lawrence from Paragraph 3?
| A．Her parents were really strict with her. |
| B．She seemed not to fit in with her school days well. |
| C．Her school performance made her today's fame. |
| D．Her two brothers were doing well in all school subjects. |
Lawrence made up her mind to be an actress because of ______.
| A．a model interview |
| B．her brothers' examples |
| C．the taxi-ride to her hotel room |
| D．the beautiful scenery of New York |
From the text we can know that Lawrence is an actress of great ______.
| A．confidence | B．ambition | C．independence | D．talent |
What is the best title of the text?
| A．Choosing Right | B．Acting Wisely |
| C．Winning Young | D．Following Dreams |
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. |
For years, business people in Western Europe were worried. They knew they could not compete against business from the U.S. The United States is much larger and had many more resources than any Western European countries.
Some European people realized that the European nations need to join together to help each other. If they could forget their language differences and the differences in customs, they might become strong competition against other countries.
In 1958, six of the European countries --- Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Italy got together and decided to cooperate. They called their group the European Economic Community, or the Common Market. These countries agreed to join their resources together.
Within a few years, the European Economic Community had worked so well that its members were more prosperous than many other European nations. Soon, other nations began to realize the advantage of the Common Market. Today the Common Market includes most of the important countries in Western Europe. It is helping Western Europe to again take its place as a leader among the industrial nations of the world. From the passage we know the U.S. is much richer than _____ in resources.
| A．any other Western European countries |
| B．any other country in Western Europe |
| C．any country in Western Europe |
| D．every country in Europe |
The members of the European Economic Community have developed fast because they ___.
| A．share their resources and become more prosperous |
| B．can again take the place as a leader in the world |
| C．forget the differences in their languages and customs |
| D．have become strong competition against the U.S. |
Which statement is true?
| A．The Common Market is only a political association. |
| B．The Common Market is an economic and political association |
| C．The Common Market is only an economic association |
| D．The Common Market is neither an economic association nor a political one. |
. In order to____， the Western European countries decided to cooperate.
| A．join together to found a united country |
| B．help each other to smooth away the differences in customs |
| C．work and act together for common purpose |
| D．work together and fight against the U.S. |
My husband and children think they are very lucky that they are living and that it’s Christmas again. We live on a dirty street in a dirty house among people who aren’t much good. But Johnny and children can’t see this，never can they see! What a pity it is that our neighbors have to make happiness out of all this dirt. I decided that my children must get out of this. The money that we’ve saved isn’t nearly enough.
The McGaritys have money but they are so proud. They look down upon the poor. The McGarity girl just yesterday stood out there in the street eating from a bag of candy while a ring of hungry children watched her. I saw those children looking at her and crying in their hearts; and when she couldn’t eat any more she threw the rest down the sewer(下水道). Why, is it only because they have money? There is more to happiness than money in the world, isn’t there?
Miss Jackson who teaches at the Settlement House isn’t rich, but she knows things. She understands people. Her eyes look straight into yours when she talks with you. She can read your mind. I’d like to see the children be like Miss Jackson when they grow up.This passage mainly suggests that the writer _______.
| A．is easy to get along with |
| B．is unhappy with the life they are living |
| C．is good at observing and understanding |
| D．is never pleased with her neighbors |
What do you think of McGarity girl?
| A．She is proud and hungry. | B．She is selfish and cruel. |
| C．She is lonely and friendless. | D．She is unhappy and misunderstood. |
In this text, the writer tries to tell us that _______.
| A．money is the key to everything |
| B．the more money you have, the less happy you’ll be |
| C．there is something more important than money |
| D．when talking to people we should look into their eyes |