The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know.
I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled,little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said,“Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I' m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?”I laughed and enthusiastically responded,“Of course you may.”and she gave me a giant squeeze. “Why are you in college at such a young,innocent age?”I asked. She jokingly replied,“I'm here to meet a rich husband,get married,have a couple of children,and then retire and travel.”“No,seriously?”I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
“I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one. ”she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milk- shake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months, we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always attracted listening to this “time machine” as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
Over the course of the year,Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she enjoyed the attention from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium(讲台). As she began to deliver her prepared speech,she dropped her 3x5 cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed, she leaned into the microphone and simply said,“I'm sorry I'm so nervous. I gave up beer for Lent(一种威士忌的牌子) and this whisky is killing me. I'll never get my speech back in order to let me just tell you what I know.”
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began:“We do not stop playing because we are old;we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young,being happy,and achieving success.” “You have to laugh and find humor every day.” You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams,you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it.” “There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing,you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything, I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. It’s non-optional but that doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change.” “Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did,but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.” She concluded her speech by courageously singing “The Rose.” She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in honor of the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they’ll really enjoy it! These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.The writer provides the details about Rose in Paragraph 2 to show that_______.
A.she was an innocent and enthusiastic person |
B.she was an optimistic and humorous person |
C.she was an aggressive person with a strong sense of honor |
D.she was an intelligent person with highly motivated personality |
Why does the writer compare Rose to “time machine” in Paragraph 3?
A.To describe the friendship between Rose and her young schoolmates. |
B.To stress her old age and rich wisdom and experience. |
C.To show that she enjoyed dressing up in spite of her old age. |
D.To emphasize that she took on the challenge at such an old age. |
Which of the following best explains the sentence ”We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing”(Paragraph 6)?
A.“If we lose our dreams, we will regret for what we did when young.” |
B.“If we don’t laugh every day, we will easily get old.” |
C.“Once we stop seeking and working for our dreams, we will really become old.” |
D.“Once we stop exercising, we will get weaker physically and mentally.” |
It can be inferred from Paragraph 6 that________.
A.those who don’t have dreams are as good as dead |
B.growing old is uncontrollable but growing up is optional |
C.the elderly usually feel regretful for what they did |
D.our talent and ability decline with age |
The method the writer uses to describe the character of Rose is________.
A.making comments | B.making comparisons |
C.providing arguments | D.giving examples |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.Meeting challenges | B.Secrets to success |
C.Dream in heart | D.My best friend |
NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHICNews Video Photogaphy The Magazine Environment Travel Adventure Television
Main Stories
Controlling the Mekong
The 5000km long Mekong River provides China with fresh when it flows and electricity when it’s dammed.
Dolphin Intelligence
300 of these social animals have been studied for over 30 years by Dr. Denise Herzing.Find out what she discovered about dolphin communication and what dolphins say.
A Day In New York
It was once a city that people scared. Now tourists are visiting New York each year. Join Robert Jones as he explores just what the Big Apple has to offer and what interesting activities can be done in a day.
Photography
The Magic of Night Markets
All around the world, street markets come to life at night.While people can shop for T-shirts and toys, the real attraction is the different kinds of food that somehow become even more delicious after dark.
Your Shot
Send us your best photos, let the world see them, and get helpful tips and advice from our photographers on how to improve them
Visions of Earth
Look through visions of the world as seen through photographers’ eyes.
Amazing Amazon
Incredible images of the wildlife of the Amazon rainforest.
Most Read This Week
1.Top Danger for Lions-Hunting
2.A Day in New York
3.Photo of the Day Best of May
4.Making the Picture You Want
5.Photos That Take You to Mexico
6.The Week’s Best Space Picture
Special Offer. Order Today!
Print and Electronic Delivery. Just $25 a year for 12 copies.Orders outside the USA must add 20%“Dolphin Intelligence” is probably a story about dolphins’ ______.
A.eating habits | B.living places |
C.learning activities | D.communication methods |
What is true about New York according to the website?
A.People are now afraid to visit. |
B.Millions of tourists go there. |
C.It has some new activities. |
D.It offers many big apples. |
A person going to the page “The Magic of Night Markets” would expect to find______.
A.a long article about night markets |
B.an interview with night market sellers |
C.many photographs of newly market foods and food shops |
D.many pictures of night market foods and food shops |
From which page can a reader get some useful advice on photography?
A.Video | B.Visions of Earth |
C.Your Shot | D.Photo of the Day |
What has been the most popular story on the website this week?
A.Top Danger for Lions: Hunting |
B.Controlling the Mckong |
C.A Day in New York |
D.Amazing Amazon |
Four years ago when I was a boy of 11, I got into the biggest trouble as a kid. It was a Saturday morning. Both my parents were out, leaving me and my 10—month—old sister became alone. Anyway, my sister was still asleep in her room. In fact I had the house to myself. I decided to do some drawing. Soon I gave up. Nothing was on TV, so I felt bored and touched the candles on the shelp…I had an idea! What would happen if I see fire to some kitchen paper? Well, of course it went on fire, but it wasn’t the tiny flame(火箭)I’d expected, and I couldn’t blow it out. I threw it on the floor, and then luckily got my dad’s boots(靴子)and stamped it out.
I thought I was safe until there was a HCGE hole in my room. When my mum came home later, she smelt the smoke immediately. She dropped the shopping bag, luckily for me, over the hole. I thought this meant she would never see it. However, after running round the house checking for a fire, she of course picked up the bag and saw the hole. Next I was grounded(关禁闭)and in trouble for months. Even though, the hole was still there, reminding me of what I did.How old was the writer when he wrote the passage?
A.11 years old. | B.13 years old. |
C.15 years old. | D.17 years old. |
The underlined words “stamp out” in the first paragraph mean ____.
A. 吹灭 B. 扑灭 C. 杀灭 D浇灭 Put the sentences in the right order according to the passage.
①The boy set fire to some kitchen paper.
②The boy did some drawing.
③The boy was grounded.
④The boy stamped the fire out.
⑤His mother checked for a fire.
A.②④③①⑤ | B.②①④⑤③ |
C.②①④③⑤ | D.①③④②⑤ |
Who put out the fire at last?
A.The writer. |
B.The writer and his sister. |
C.The writer’s mother. |
D.The writer’s father. |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.It’s difficult to put out a fire. |
B.The boy didn’t look after his sister. |
C.The boy made a big trouble when he was 11. |
D.Don’t leave children home alone while shopping. |
Be honest. That’s all you have to do on Honesty Day. It would be great if we were all honest every day of the year. It’s good that there is a day to encourage honesty. M. Hirsh Goldberg started Honesty Day. He chose the last day of April because the first day is April Fool’s Day, which celebrate lies. On Honesty Day, anyone may ask you any question and you should give a true and honest answer. That means that you have knowledge of Honesty Day.
M. Hirsh Goldberg wrote a book on telling lies. He said in his book that almost all person lie about 200 times a day. In our daily life, a typical(典型的)life for a man is “I did not drink that much” and for a woman is “Nothing is wrong, I’m fine.” It is found that nurses are the most honest people, while sales people and politicians(政客)are the biggest liars.
Every Honesty Day, M. Hirsh Goldberg hands out prizes to honest people.M. Hirsh Goldberg started Honesty Day to ______.
A.celebrate lies | B.encourage honesty |
C.ask questions | D.hand out prizes |
Which of the following is Honesty Day?
A.April 1st | B.April 10th |
C.April 20th | D.April 30th |
According to the passage, ______ are the most honest people.
A.nurses | B.sales people |
C.politicians | D.all men |
The underlined word “liars” probably means “______”.
A.获利者 | B.说谎者 |
C.影响着 | D.领导者 |
Do you sleep well? If your answer is no, the following might help you.
Set a certain bedtime and rising time A certain bedtime and rising time can help you build up your body clocks. Set a bedtime which is good and natural for you. Don’t change your bedtime and rising time on weekends. |
Avoid exciting activities just before sleeping Exciting activities get your thoughts running. At the same time, if you make tomorrow’s plan or read an exciting story before turning off the light, it doesn’t give you enough time to relax before you try to sleep. |
Keep the bedroom for sleeping only It’s a bad habit for you to use your bedroom as a place to eat, watch TV, read, talk on the phone, or discuss important matters with your family members. Break that habit to get better sleep. |
Don’t go to bed too early Your body usually lets you sleep only the number of hours it needs. You should decide how many hours you must sleep in order not to experience daytime sleepiness. |
Take a warm shower before your bedtime A twenty-minute warm shower at a temperature of about 45 –50 not only is a great relax at day’s end, but also raises your body temperature by several degrees. The coming drop in temperature of your body will naturally make you feel sleepy. |
If you want to build up your body clocks, you should ______.
A.set a certain bedtime and rising time |
B.go to bed neither too early nor too late |
C.keep the bedroom for sleeping only |
D.take a warm shower before sleeping |
Why should you avoid exciting activities just before sleeping?
A.Because they will get your thoughts running |
B.Because you have to make tomorrow’s paln |
C.Because you should read an exciting story |
D.Because you will have to turn off the light. |
Your bedroom should be kept for ______ only.
A.talking | B.eating |
C.reading | D.sleeping |
According to the passage, ______ will make you feel sleepy.
A.taking a cold shower |
B.your body temperature dropping |
C.your daily experience |
D.raising your body temperature |
News Review
APEC Blue People in Beijing got the saying after the APEC meeting in Beijing. It refers to(指) the clear blue sky during the meeting. To get such a blue sky, many factories in Beijing and nearby cities stopped work, and the number of cars on the road was cut.
A Warning Ticket A 24-year-old woman in Nanjing was given a warning ticket for eating food on the subway. Eating is not allowed on Nanjing subway. Up to now, 2,698 people have been punished(惩罚) because of their eating, smoking or selling goods on the subway.
A Teacher-free Exam Recently, students at Ningbo Huamao Foreign Language School in Zhejiang took their mid-term exam –a teacher-free exam. After handing out the exam papers, the teachers left the classroom, leaving the students to take the exam without being watched. They only came back to collect the papers at the end.
A Tomato Fight Do you want a tomato shower? Come to the “tomato fight” in Spain! Once every year, people in the town of Bunol throw tomatoes at each other. Don’t worry. It’s not a real fight. People do this only for fun.APEC Blue refers to _____ in Beijing during the APEC meeting.
A.the factories | B.the clear blue sky |
C.the people | D.the cars on the road |
A 24-year-old woman in Nanjing was given a warning ticket for _____ on the subway.
A.drinking | B.smoking |
C.eating food | D.selling goods |
In a teacher-free exam, students take their exam _____.
A. at the end of the term
C. outside the classroom
C. without giving answers
D. without being watchedIn the town of Bunol, Spain, people throw tomatoes at each other _____.
A.to have fun | B.to enjoy dinner |
C.to take a shower | D.to start a fight |