John H. Johnson was born in a black family in Arkansas city in 1918. His father died in an accident when John was six. He was reaching the high school age, but his hometown offered no high school for blacks.
Fortunately he had a strong-willed (意志坚强的) caring mother. John remembered that his mother told him many times, “Son, you can be anything you want really to be if you just believe.” She told him not to depend on others, including his mother. “You have to earn success, ”she said. “All the people who work hard don’t succeed, but the only people who do succeed are those who work hard.”
These words came from a woman with less than a third grade education. She also knew that believing and hard work don’t mean everything. So she worked hard as a cook for two years to save enough to take her son, who was then 15, to Chicago.
Chicago in 1933 was not the promised land that black southerners were looking for. John’s mother and stepfather could not find work. But here John could go to school, and here he learned the power of words—as an editor of the newspaper and yearbook at Du Sable High School .His wish was to publish a magazine for blacks.
While others discouraged him, John’s mother offered him more words to live by. “Nothing beats a failure but a try. ”She also let him pawn(典当)her furniture to get the $ 500 he needed to start the Negro magazine.
It is natural that difficulties and failures followed John closely until he became very successful. He always keeps his mother’s words in mind.“Son, failure is not in your vocabulary!”
Now John H. Johnson is one of the 400 richest people in America—worth $ 150 million.John’s mother decided to move to Chicago because _____.
| A.his father died when John was very young |
| B.life was too hard for them to stay on in their hometown |
| C.John needed more education badly |
| D.there were no schools for Negroes in their hometown |
John’s mother______
| A.didn’t believe in or depend on others |
| B.thought one could be whatever one wanted to be |
| C.believed one would succeed without working hard |
| D.thought no one could succeed without working hard |
The underlined sentence “Nothing beats a failure but a try. ” means _____.
| A.if you try, you would succeed |
| B.a failure is difficult to beat, even if you try |
| C.a try is always followed by a failure |
| D.no failure can be beaten unless you try |
The story mainly tells us _____.
| A.how John H. Johnson became successful |
| B.about the mental (心理的) support John’s mother gave him |
| C.about the importance of a good education |
| D.about the key to success for blacks |
Do you ever run out of great books to read? So what should I read next? Is fast-paced crime fiction your thing? Try the new Patricia Cornwell book, Scarpetta (Putnam). She is such an able writer and handles complex forensic(法庭的) intelligence with ease. You need to be prepared, though, for the world you're entering—this isn't for the faint of heart, let's say.
If peace is more your thing, try Mary Pipher's wonderful new book, Seeking Peace:Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World (Riverhead). Mary is a lovely, comfortable writer who takes the reader through her personal awakening after reputation and fortune came her way. Even if you've never experienced life as a bestselling writer (as she has done, in her book years back, Reviving Ophelia), you'll totally understand and sympathize with her renewed need for privacy, distance and quiet.
What if you want a straightforward, totally thrilling read with vivid characters, set about World War II? You cannot go wrong with Jim Lehrer's new novel, Oh, Johnny (Random House), about a young Marine whose life is changed forever when he meets a woman on his way to war. His relationship with her lasts him through danger and hardship, and there's an impressive ending. See our interview with the productive novelist/newsman in the current issue of Reader's Digest (March, on stands now), by the way, for insight into the very talented Mr. Lehrer and what interests him.
Well, what about something wickedly funny and totally offbeat? Does the name Carrie Fisher do anything for you? Try her vivid and new life in Hollywood and elsewhere, Wishful Drinking (Simon & Schuster). Be prepared for humor as sharp as knives. In which column will you probably find the above passage?
| A.Advice. | B.News story. |
| C.Advertisement. | D.Comments. |
What does the writer intend to tell us by the underlined sentence?

| A.The world is complex and hard. | B.Scarpetta is a thriller. |
| C.The fiction is hard to understand. | D.Society is hard to fit into. |
Which of the following is true of Mary Pipher?
| A.She is an adventurous writer. |
| B.She doesn’t care about fortune. |
| C.Her books normally sell well. |
| D.She can help you achieve writing skills. |
To get further information about Jim Lehrer, you may________.
| A.go to Reader’s Digest issued in March |
| B.go to Random House |
| C.analyze the characters in Oh, Johnny |
| D.read the novel Oh, Johnny |
Which book isn’t directly based on the writer’s own life?
| A.Seeking Peace. | B. Reviving Ophelia.![]() |
| C.Wishful Drinking. | D.Oh, Johnny. |
New York State has passed the USA’s first state law banning motorists talking on hand-heldcell phones. The ban will begin November 1, although drivers caught using hand-held cell phones will be given only warnings during the first month.
First-time violators(违法者) will face a $100 fine. A second time call for a $200 fine and every violation after that will cost$500.
At least a dozen localities(地方) have established bans, starting in 1999; and 40 states have had bans proposed but not passed. At least 23 countries, including the Great Britain, Italy, Israel and Japan, ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones.
There are about 115 million cell phones in use in the United States and more than 6 million in New York State.
“To think that I’m not going to use cell phone when at the same time I can still use my laptop, I still can read a paper, I can still change my pants(裤子) while driving 65 mph. I think there’s just something wrong,” an official said.
Other critics noted that other things like eating, drinking coffee and applying make-up while driving posed(造成) at least as much of a concern. They suggested that the ban include a broader range of things. How much fine will a hand-held cell phone user receive if he has been caught using it four times while driving after November?
| A.$500. | B.$1000. | C.$1200. | D.$1300. |
We can see from this passage that _______.
| A.the ban has been put into effect in most states in the U. S. |
| B.many of the developed countries forbid drivers using hand-held cell phones |
| C.over fifty localities or states ban drivers from using hand-held cell phones |
| D.more people in the U. S. are against the ban than for it |
The official mentioned in this passage _______.
| A.does not agree with this ban |
| B.doesn’t believe using hand-held cell phones while driving will cause any danger |
| C.doesn’t understand why hand-held cell phones alone should be banned among many others |
| D.believes changing pants while driving will cause greater danger |
The writer intends to tell us in the last paragraph that _______.
| A.it is not fair to have this ban passed |
| B.the ban will never be passed in the whole country |
| C.more activities of the same kind should also be banned |
| D.the ban will meet with more criticism |
This article is most probably taken from_______.
| A.a newspaper article | B.an advertisement |
| C.a personal diary | D.a letter |
“What’s in a name?”According to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, there is not too much. “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. ”But Shakespeare may have been wrong. In most cultures, names matter a great deal.
Americans choose names for their children with care. Parents usually think about the impression a name gives, not its meaning. Most Americans would consider a“Jennifer”more attractive than a “Bertha”, for example. The last name, or, surname, must also be considered when choosing a first and middle name. A name like Lester Chester Hester would sound poetic, but odd. Parents would avoid names that remind them of people they don’t like. On the other hand, people might name their children after a respected elderly relative or even a famous person. The popularity of certain names can change with each new generation. Names that were once common, like Fanny or Elmer, sound old-fashioned today. But other names—like John and David, Mary and Sarah—have stood the test of time and continue to be favorites.
People in America don’t always call their friends and relatives by their given names. Instead, they often use nicknames. Sometimes nicknames are short forms of a longer name. For instance, a girl named Elizabeth may be called Lisa, Beth or Betsy. As children grow up, they may decide for themselves which nickname they wish to be called. Some people just go by the initials of their first and middle names, like B. J. or R. C. And of course, people may call their children or their sweethearts other special nicknames. Often they have a “sweet” flavor, like Honey or Sugar. What’s in a name? A world of significance. So if you’re choosing an English name for yourself, take care to choose a good one. A made-up name could sound strange to native English
speakers. And a translation of your Chinese name may not make an appropriate name, either. But a good name can leave a positive and lasting impression. As an American politician once said,“In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends
upon the name it bears.”What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 2 mean?
| A.People change names in order to be popular with the new generation. |
| B.Names will change by themselves in order to be popular. |
| C.Some names may no longer be popular among the new generation. |
| D.No names can stand the test of time. |
When choosing names, you should stick to the following principles except that _________.
| A.the impression a name gives is more important than its meaning |
| B.you can name after a well-known person |
| C.surname should be paid attention to |
| D.you can create a name that is special |
The word “initial” in paragraph 3 probably means .
| A.nickname | B.the first letter | C.short form | D.title |
The author will name a newly born baby girl .
| A.Bertha | B.Fanny | C.Yunyun | D.Elizabeth |
What is the main idea of this passage?
| A.Names have great significance to Americans. |
| B.Names change when time goes by. |
| C.Chinese people should be careful when choosing their English names. |
| D.Roses smell sweet by any other name. |
In America, when people say “man’s best friend”, they don’t mean another person. Instead, they are talking about a lovely animal:A dog! These words show the friendship between people and animals. Dogs and other pets can give happiness to people’s lives. Some people think of their pets as their children. A few even leave all their money to their pets when they die!
Animals can help people, too. Dogs can be taught to become the “eyes” for a blind person or “ears” for a deaf people. Scientists have found that pets help people live longer! They make people happier, too. Because of that, animals are brought into hospitals for “visit”.
Americans hold “Be-Kind-to-Animals Week” in the first week of May.
Pets shows are held during the week. Even if you don’t live in America, you, too, can do this. How? First, think about how animals make your life richer. If you have a pet, take more time this week to play with it. Remember to give it delicious food. Also, be sure to keep your pet from those unwanted babies.
If you don’t have a pet, be kind to animals around you. For example, if you see a street dog, don’t kick it or throw things at it. Instead, just leave it alone, or better yet, make friends with it. If others around you do bad things to an animal, try to stop them. As people, we must protect animals who can’t speak for themselves. “A few even leave all their money to their pets when they die!” means that__________
| A.pets have the right to inherit (继承) money. |
| B.money can give pets happiness. |
| C.it’s the best way to spend money. |
| D.some pets are taken as children. |
Why are dogs brought to hospitals?
| A.Because they are ill and need to see doctors. |
| B.Because they can make the patients happier. |
| C.Because they can find out the problems of the patients. |
| D.Because doctors can do experiments on them. |
What’s the most popular activity in the “Be-Kind-to-Animals Week”?
| A.Holding a pet show in the week. |
| B.Playing with pets the whole week. |
| C.Cooking delicious food for pets. |
| D.Making friends with other people’s pets. |
What’s the passage mainly about?
| A.A lot of people are interested in dogs. |
| B.Dogs can help people do many things. |
| C.Pets are lovely and need care and protection. |
| D.We have done a lot of things for pets. |
The words “man’s best friends” shows____________.
| A.the friendship between people. |
| B.the friendship between people and animals. |
| C.the friendship between animals. |
| D.the friendship between men and women |
Dear MSN,
I live in San Diego. I’m single and would like to meet people near me. Can I do this on the Internet?
Searching in San Diego
Dear Searching,
On the Internet, you could easily go looking for love in all the wrong places, but here are lots of great ways to meet singles near you.
The Web is a good place to start. MSN also has international sites for Europe, Australia and South America.
There are several California-based MSN web communities where you can meet like-minded people near you as well as city-specific chat rooms for real-time interaction (互动). Hope for some clever friends. What about a little more excitement in your online interactions? Try the “Gaming Zone!”
I also tried MSN Search, looked under the “Personal” heading and found “Relationships”. Clicked on that, then found “Ads & Personals”, by “Region” and found San Diego specific personal from there. Try it!
Also, give “IRC” (Internet Relay Chat) and “Usenet Newsgroups” a shot. Many a net romance has started and then developed in these off-the-Web communities. If you’d rather make friends F2F (face to face), the Web has some helpful dating and redating tips. Searching has written this letter with the purpose of ______________.
| A.getting help from MSN with his computer |
| B.winning the heart of a love from the web. |
| C.meeting single people online |
| D.looking for love in all the wrong places |
According to the second letter, MSN has several advantages such as _______________.
| A.shooting IRC and Usenet Newsgroups |
| B.giving you time and places to chat with others |
| C.satisfying you with whatever kind of help you want |
| D.supplying you with many methods to make friends |
From the second letter we can infer that MSN treats an ordinary reader so kindly and warmly because _______________.
| A.it is its duty to help those who have trouble with their computers |
| B.it needs to attract as many readers as possible so as to make greater benefit |
| C.it likes to see more net romances to share their happiness |
| D.all people need it and it needs all people |