There was once a man called Mr. Flowers, and flowers were his only joy in life. He spent all his free time in one of his four glass-houses and grew flowers of every color, with long and difficult names, for competitions. He tried to grow a rose of a new color to win the silver cup for the Rose of the Year.
Mr. Flowers’ glass-houses were very near to a middle school. Boys of around thirteen of age were often tempted (引诱) to throw a stone or two at one of Mr. Flowers’ glass-houses. So Mr. Flowers did his best to be in or near his glass-houses at the beginning and end of the school day.
But it was not always possible to be on watch at those times. Mr. Flowers had tried in many ways to protect his glass, but nothing that he had done had been useful. He had been to school to report to the headmaster; but this had not done any good. He had tried to drive away the boys that threw stones into his garden; but the boys could run faster than he could, and they laughed at him from far away. He had even picked up all the stones that he could find around his garden, so that the boys would have nothing to throw; but they soon found others.
At last Mr. Flowers had a good idea. He put up a large notice made of good, strong wood, some meters away from the glass-houses. On it he had written the words: DO NOT THROW STONES AT THIS NOTICE. After this, Mr. Flowers had no further trouble; the boys were much more tempted to throw stones at the notice than at the glass-houses.It was Mr. Flowers’ hope to ________.
| A．build glass-houses in his free time |
| B．grow the Rose of the Year in a silver cup |
| C．win a silver cup for growing a rose of a new color |
| D．grow a rose with the longest name. |
Boys were often tempted to ________.
| A．throw stones at Mr. Flowers’ glass-house |
| B．throw stones at Mr. Flowers from their school |
| C．be in or near by Mr. Flowers’ glass-houses |
| D．play with Mr. Flowers near his glass-houses |
Mr. Flowers stayed in or near by his glass-houses _______.
| A．at times when school-boys were walking near them |
| B．all the school day when there were no boys about |
| C．where he could not be seen by the boys passing |
| D．in his free time at the beginning and end of the school day |
Mr. Flowers had tried to ______ to protect his glass.
| A．be on watch in his free time | B．ask the headmaster for help |
| C．pick up all the stones around his garden | D．do all the above |
Mr. Flowers’ good idea was to ______.
| A．write some words on the glass |
| B．put up a large notice to cover his glass-houses |
| C．give the boys something else to throw stones at |
| D．send for policemen |
Dreaming is a natural part of who we are. We explore our dreams and develop personal dreams. We even like to dream BIG!
For the most part our dreams and wishes focus on the end result. We see ourselves in love, married, driving a great car, on vacation, with tons of money, in a great career, etc. Dreaming about the end result is just fantasizing and wishing. Wishing relies on some magical force to make our dreams turn into reality, and we become unhappy as we’re not living(实现) our dreams.
So how can we make our dreams come true? That is a question we all often struggle with. Even though we struggle with the answer, the answer is not that clear. We make our dreams come true with the action we take.
In my opinion, if you dream about being in good health, then change your dream to see yourself working out and eating right day by day. See the beginning of the dream and let the dream build day by day with all the action that gets you to the end dream of you being in good health.
If you want riches, then change the dream. Dream of yourself going to school, developing a career, working hard and taking the steps to arrive at the destination. If you want love, love the process. Love the dating process(过程). Love yourself and the journey to find love.
Make all your dreams include the beginning, middle and end. Then when you are doing the action instead of thinking to yourself, “This is a drag. I don’t like working out,” or if you are having any negative thoughts about doing the work it takes to create your visions(梦幻), realize then that every step of the way you are living your dream. You are living your dream because you made the action and journey part of your dream.According to the writer, most of the people____.
| A．pay more attention to developing their dreams |
| B．enjoy the process of their dreams |
| C．are always ignoring the process of living their dreams |
| D．probably dream of making much more money easily |
In order to live our dreams, we must____.
| A．struggle with dreams day and night. |
| B．have great wishes and thoughts. |
| C．have magical forces every night. |
| D．take action or steps. |
If you want to keep fit,______
| A．you’d better dream a sweet dream first. |
| B．you must love the process of the journey. |
| C．you would rather begin with your diet and exercise. |
| D．you should have a good beginning first. |
what can be inferred from the last paragraph?
| A．It’s important to focus on your final result. |
| B．Good mind and action can help you live your dream. |
| C．Think to yourself while living your dream. |
| D．Creating your visions comes first. |
How long do you want to live? How many years might be added to a life? Do you want to live another 100 years or more? Some experts say that scientific advances will one day enable humans to last tens of years beyond what is now seen as the natural limit of the human life span.（寿命）
“I think we are knocking at the door of immortality(永生) , " said Michael Zey, a Montclair State University business professor and author of two books on the future. "I think by 2075 we will see it and that's a conservative estimate(保守的估计)."
At the conference in San Francisco, Donald Louria, a professor at New Jersey Medical School in Newark said advances in using genes as well as nanotechnology(纳米技术) make it likely that humans will live in the future beyond what has been possible in the past. "There is a great push so that people can live from 120 to 180 years," he said. "Some have suggested that there is no limit and that people could live to 200 or 300 or 500 years.
However, many scientists who research into ageing are doubtful about it and say the human body is just not designed to last past about 120 years. Even with healthier lifestyles and less disease, they say the failure of the brain and organs will finally lead all humans to death.
Scientists also differ on what kind of life the super aged might live. "It remains to be seen if you pass 120,you know, could you be healthy enough to have good quality of life?" said Leonard Poon, director of the University of Georgia Gerontology Centre. "At present people who could get to that point are not in good health at all."By saying "we are knocking at the door of immortality", Michael Zey means ______.
| A．they have got some ideas about living forever |
| B．they are sure to find the truth about long living |
| C．they believe that there is no limit of living |
| D．they are able to make people live past the present life span |
Donald Louria's attitude towards long living is that ______.
| A．people can live from 120 to 180 |
| B．it is possible for humans to live longer in the future |
| C．the human body is designed to last past about 120 years |
| D．it is still doubtful how long humans can live |
The underlined word "it"( in Paragraph 4)refers to______.
| A．using genes as well as nanotechnology |
| B．the idea of living beyond the present life span |
| C．a great push |
| D．the conservative estimate |
What would be the best title for this text?
| A．No Limit for Human Life | B．Science, Technology and Long Living |
| C．Living Longer or Not | D．Healthy Lifestyle and Long Living |
While many other teen stars built up their celebrity status(名人地位) by working hard on popular TV shows, Justin shot straight to the top by using social media.
A few years ago, Justin uploaded(上传) videos of himself on YouTube, showing covers of his favorite songs at home. He just saw it as a bit of fun for friends and family, but when music manager Scooter Braun saw one of the videos, he flew to Justin’s hometown of Ontario, Canada to sign him up. Justin was just 13.
Shortly after, Justin was flown to the US. He eventually started working with R&B superstar Usher. Justin’s first album My world was released in 2009. But all the time, Justin continued to build his fan base on his YouTube account, where some of his original home videos can still be found, and where he continues to post music. “I wasn’t sending mixtapes or anything like that to record labels,” he told us when we met him on his promotional tour for his latest film Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. “I was just doing regular stuff at home and I just posted videos online without purpose. I would never be here if it wasn’t for the Internet and YouTube.”
But it isn’t just YouTube that helps Justin’s popularity. He also updates his Twitter account (@Justin-Bieber) regularly and has about 8.8 million followers. In fact, he’s so popular that Justin was responsible for 3% of the site’s activity at one time and so popular that entire racks of servers on Twitter were devoted to him.
In light of his story, many young, aspiring artists are now taking advantage of Twitter and YouTube. Both these sites can help artists build fan bases in the hope that they’ll become the next big thing. Justin added, “I think my story brings hope to people and I think that’s very important. The only thing holding you back is yourself. Never say never.”What is the best title for the passage?
| A．A famous young man | B．YouTube---A popular website |
| C．Justin’s way to success | D．Social media is the most important |
The underlined word “covers” in Paragraph 2 means_____.
| A．The cover of a book. |
| B．The shelter from attack. |
| C．The sheet on the bed. |
| D．Another version of a pop song by a different artist. |
Which one is right according to the passage?
| A．Justin posted videos online in order to succeed. |
| B．Justin becomes a celebrity partly owing to social media. |
| C．Justin has the same way to succeed as others. |
| D．Justin has built many websites. |
What can we know from Paragraph 5?
| A．Many young, aspiring artists are objection to Justin’s way. |
| B．Many celebrities like Justin must appear in the future. |
| C．Justin tells others never to depend on social media. |
| D．Justin has set an example to many young, aspiring artists. |
Zhang Li is studying at Cambridge, UK. She has bought a bicycle and is worried about security. Her friend, Kate, found this article and sent it to her.
Introduction
A lot of crime is against bicycles. About 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year and most are never found. You can prevent this happening by following a few careful steps.
Basic Security
Do not leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. Always lock your bicycle when you leave. Secure it to lampposts(灯柱) or trees. Take off smaller parts and take them with you, for example lights and saddles(车座).
Locks
Get a good lock. There are many different types in the shop. Buy one that has been tested against attack. Ask for advice from a bike shop.
Marking
Security marking your bike can act as a deterrent to a thief. It can also help the police find your bicycle. It should be clearly written and include your postcode and your house or flat number. This will provide a simple way to identify your bicycle.
Registration
There are a number of companies who will security mark your bicycle for you. They will then put your registration number and personal details on their computer database(数据库). Then if your bicycle is found it will be easy to get in touch with you.
Finally
Keep a record of the bicycle yourself: its make, model and registration number. You can even take a photograph of it. This will prove the bicycle belongs to you. Which part of the article gives you information on how to lock up your bicycle when you leave it?
| A．Locks | B．Marking | C．Registration | D．Basic Security |
The underlined phrase “act as a deterrent to a thief” means__________.
| A．help you recognize your bike |
| B．help the police find your bicycle |
| C．stop someone from stealing your bicycle |
| D．stop you worrying about your bike |
The article advises you to keep a record of your bicycle .
| A．in the bike shop and your computer. |
| B．in a police station and security company. |
| C．in a security company and your university. |
| D．by yourself and in a security company. |
The main purpose of this article is .
| A．to tell you what to do if your bicycle is stolen |
| B．to suggest ways of keeping your bicycle safe |
| C．to give you advice on where to buy a good lock |
| D．to say why you shouldn’t keep your bicycle in a quiet place |
When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings. Week by week her list grew: I was very thin; I wasn’t a good student; I talked too much; I was too proud and so on. I tried to bear all these things as long as I could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me quietly, then he asked, “Are the things she said true or not? Janet, didn’t you ever wonder what you are really like? Well, you now have the girl’s opinion. Go to make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to other things she said.”
I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half of the things were true. some of them I couldn’t change (like being very thin), but a good number I could and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I got a fairly clear picture of myself.
I brought the list back to Daddy. He refused to take it, “That’s just for you,” he said. “You know better than anyone else, the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just closing your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of help to you. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to other people’s opinions, but hear the truth and do what you know is right.”
Daddy’s advice returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve never had a better piece of advice.Which do you think would be the best title for this passage?
| A．Not an Enemy, but a Best Friend |
| B．The Best Advice I’ve Ever Had |
| C．My Father |
| D．My Childhood |
“Week by week her list grew” means “________”.
| A．Week by Week, my shortcomings grew more serious. |
| B．She had made a list of shortcomings. |
| C．I was having more and more shortcomings as time went on. |
| D．Week by week she discovered more shortcomings of mine and pointed them out. |
Her father listened to her quietly was because .
| A．He believed what her daughter’s enemy said was mostly true. |
| B．He had been so angry with his daughter’s shortcomings. |
| C．He didn’t believe in his daughter. |
| D．He wasn’t quite sure which girl was telling the truth. |
After the father heard his daughter’s word, he .
| A．told her to write down what her “enemy” had said and pay attention to the true things. |
| B．criticized(批评) her and told her to overcome her shortcomings. |
| C．told her not to pay any attention to what her “enemy” said. |
| D．refused to take the list and have a look at it. |