About this time every year, I get very nostalgic(怀旧的). Walking through my neighborhood on a fall afternoon reminds me of a time not too long ago when sounds of children filled the air, children playing games on a hill, and throwing leaves around in the street below. I was one of those children, carefree and happy. I live on a street that is only one block long. I have lived on the same street for sixteen years. I love my street. One side has six houses on it, and the other has only two houses, with a small hill in the middle and a huge cottonwood tree on one end. When I think of home, I think of my street. Only I see it as it was before. Unfortunately things change. One day, not long ago, I looked around and saw how different everything has become. Life on my street will never be the same because neighbors are quickly grown old, friends are growing up and leaving, and the city is planning to destroy my precious hill and sell the property to contractors.
It is hard for me to accept that many of my wonderful neighbors are growing old and won’t be around much longer. I have fond memories of the couple across the street, who sat together on their porch swing almost every evening, the widow next door who yelled at my brother and me for being too loud, and the crazy old man in a black suit who drove an old car. In contrast to those people, the people I see today are very old neighbors who have seen better days. The man in the black suit says he wants to die, and another neighbor just sold his house and moved into a nursing home. The lady who used to yell at us is too tired to bother any more, and the couple across the street rarely go out to their front porch these days. It is difficult to watch these precious people as they near the end of their lives because at once I thought they would live forever.
The “comings and goings” of the younger generation of my street are now mostly “goings” as friends and peers move on. Once upon a time, my life and the lives of my peers revolved around home. The boundary of our world was the gutter at the end of the street. We got pleasure from playing night games or from a breathtaking ride on a tricycle. Things are different now, as my friends become adults and move on. Children who rode tricycles now drive cars. The kids who once played with me now have new interests and values as they go their separate ways. Some have gone away to college like me, a few got married, two went into the army, and one went to prison. Watching all these people grow up and go away makes me long for the good old days.
Perhaps the biggest change on my street is the fact that the city is going to turn my precious hill into several lots for now homes. For sixteen years, the view out of my kitchen window has been a view of that hill. The hill was a fundamental part of my childhood life; it was the hub of social activity for the children of my street. We spent hours there building forts, sledding, and playing tag. The view out of my kitchen window now is very different; it is one of tractors and dump trucks tearing up the hill. When the hill goes, the neighborhood will not be the same. It is a piece of my childhood. It is a visual reminder of being a kid. Without the hill, my street will be just another pea in the pod.
There was a time when my street was my world, and I thought my world would never change. But something happened. People grow up, and people grow old. Places changes, and with the change comes the heartache of knowing I can never go back to the times I loved. In a year or so, I will be gone just like many of my neighbors. I will always look back to my years as a child, but the place I remember will not be the silent street whose peace is interrupted by the sounds of construction. It will be the happy, noisy, somewhat strange, but wonderful street I knew as a child.The writer finds it hard to accept the fact that _____________.
A.many of his good neighbors are growing old |
B.the lady next door who used to yell at him and his brother is now a widow |
C.the life of his neighbors has become very boring |
D.the man in his black suit even wanted to end his own life |
The biggest change on the writer's street is _____________.
A.removing the hill to make way for residential development |
B.the building of new homes behind his kitchen window |
C.the fact that there are much fewer people around than in the past |
D.the change in his childhood friends' attitude towards their neighborhood |
What does the writer mean by saying “my street will be another pea in the pod”?
A.his street will be very noisy and dirty |
B.his street will soon be crowded with people |
C.his street will have some new attractions |
D.his street will be no different from any other street |
Which could be a good title for the passage?
A.The Past of My Street will Live Forever |
B.Unforgettable People and Things of My Street |
C.Memory Street Isn’t What It Used to Be |
D.The Big Changes of My Street |
Do you know that girls are seven times more likely than boys to be unhappy and twice more likely to commit suicide(自杀)and that girls are three times more likely than boys to have a negative attitude?Twenty percent of the girls in the US between the ages of 12 and 17 drink alcohol(酒)and smoke cigarettes.
So what is mental(心理的)health?Mental health is how we think,feel,and act in order to face life’s problems.
A young girl’s mental health affects her daily life and future. Like physical health,mental health is important at every stage of life. Caring for and protecting a young girl’s mental health is important to ensure that she grows up to become the best she can be.
Many children experience mental health problems that are painful and can be serious. Mental health problems affect at least one in every five young people at any given time. Unluckily,about two thirds of all young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need. Mental health problems can lead to school failure,alcohol or other drug abuse(滥用),family violence,or even suicide.
There are many signs that may point to a possible mental health problem in a child or teenager. If you are worried about a child or have any questions,look for help at once. Talk to your doctor,a school teacher,or other mental health experts who are trained to know whether your child has a mental health problem. You can also call 18007892647 for a list of warning signs.What is implied in the first paragraph?
A.More and more girls are committing suicide. |
B.Boys are usually physically stronger than girls. |
C.Girls are more likely to have mental health problems than boys. |
D.Children in America are lacking in parental care. |
In the author’s opinion,________.
A.mental health is more important than physical health |
B.mental health is important no matter how old you are |
C.people with mental health problems will never succeed |
D.it’s easier for children to have mental health problems than adults |
According to the passage,which of the following people would most probably call 18007892647?
A.People who are sure they have mental health problems. |
B.Children who have mental health problems and want help. |
C.Parents who want to know whether their children are doing well at school. |
D.Parents who want to know whether their children have mental health problems. |
The purpose of this passage is to________.
A.tell parents what to do if they find that their children have mental health problems |
B.explain why so many children have mental health problems |
C.tell people how bad it is to have mental health problems |
D.ask parents to pay more attention to their children’s mental health |
I will probably remember one June day seven years ago for the rest of my life. My father had been complaining that my brother and I were watching too much TV, but we ignored him. Then one day we came home and the television was gone.
When I asked my father about the missing TV, he said watching television was a waste of time. Without it, we would have time for other things.
I decided he was wrong. Is there life without TV? How can we spend the week without all those shows and soaps? I was sure my life would be boring without TV, I used my best debating skills to argue with him, but he would not give in.
However, I found other ways to spend my time finally, Each day I ran around the street. This reminded me of my love for athletics, which I still enjoy. I joined Volunteers, and I built lasting friendships. Most importantly, I discovered an artistic world I never knew. I started taking art contests, and was shocked when I won. Then I took piano lessons. I began to like listening to AM radio, reading news magazines.
Living without TV has taught me how to manage my time, so that I can do many things in one day. I am proud to have learned I don’t need television.
Looking back, I think my father did the right thing. “You are smart. You could do anything that you put your heart to.” he used to say. He believed in us. His actions showed me a much more colorful side of life without TV and the value of having a goal and sticking to it.My father was angry and took the television away because _______.
A.we asked him to do so |
B.my brother and I did not need it |
C.he needed some money |
D.my brother and I watched too much TV |
What did I do after the TV was missing?
A.I went to my friend’s house to watch TV. |
B.I stayed at home all day. |
C.I asked my father to buy a new television. |
D.I did many useful things. |
_______ is NOT what I did after the TV was missing?
A.Running around the street |
B.Sleeping day in and day out |
C.Listening to the radio |
D.Taking art contests |
The author mainly tells us that _______.
A.life without TV can be very colorful |
B.life would be boring without TV |
C.people can’t spend the week without shows and soaps |
D.watching television was a waste of time |
In early autumn I applied for admission to college. I wanted to go nowhere but to Cornell University, but my mother fought strongly against it. When she saw me studying a photograph of my father on the sports ground of Cornell, she tore it up.
“You can’t say it’s not a great university, just because Papa went there.”
“That’s not it at all. And it is a top university.” She was still holding the pieces in her hand. “But we can’t afford to send you to college.”
“I wouldn’t dream of asking you for money. Do you want me to get a job to help support you and Papa? Things aren’t that bad, are they?”
“No,” she said. “I don’t expect you to help support us.”
Father borrowed money form his rich cousins to start a small jewellery shop, His chief customers were his old college friends. To get new customers, my mother had to help. She picked up a long-forgotten membership in the local league of women, so that she could get to know more people. Whether those people would turn into customers was another question. I knew that my Parents had to wait for quite a long time before their small investment (投资) could show returns. What’s more, they had not wanted enough to be rich and successful ;Otherwise they could not possibly have managed their lives so badly.
I was torn between the desire to help them and change their lives, and the determination not to repeat their mistakes. I had a strong belief in my power to go what I wanted. After months of hard study I won a full college scholarship(奖学金).My father could hardly contain his pride in me, and my mother eventually gave in before my success.The author was not allowed to go to Cornell University mainly because .
A.his father graduated from the university |
B.his mother did not thinks it a great university |
C.his parents needed him to help support the family |
D.his parents did not have enough money for him |
The father started his small shop with the money from.
A.a local league | B.his university |
C.his relatives | D.his college friends |
Why did the mother renew her membership in the league?
A.To help with her husband’s business |
B.To raise money for her son |
C.To meet her long-forgotten friends |
D.To better manage her life |
According to the text, what was the author determined to do in that autumn?
A.To get a well-paid job for himself |
B.To improve relations with his mother |
C.To go to his dream university |
D.To carry on with his father’s business |
Student Membership--Cambridge Arts Cinema
Cambridge Arts Cinema is one of the art houses in Britain and home of the internationally celebrated Cambridge Film Festival. Since 1947 generations of students have discovered the wealth of world cinema. Now you too can make most of it and save money.Which of the following is the most famous event held at Cambridge Arts Cinema?
A.The Cambridge Film Festival. |
B.Meetings with filmmakers. |
C.The preview screening. |
D.Monthly premieres. |
If you're a member of Cambridge Arts Cinema, you will enjoy free__________.
A.Darkroom Gallery shows | B.mailed programmes |
C.special film events | D.film shows |
How long will the membership for Cambridge Arts Cinema last?
A.Four months. | B.Eight months. |
C.Nine months. | D.One year. |
For what purpose is the text written?
A.Offering students cheaper tickets. |
B.Announcing the opening of a premiere. |
C.Telling the public of the cinema's address. |
D.Increasing the cinema's membership. |
“TODAY is a dream comes true. I have always wanted to be a Grand Slam (大满贯) champion.”
These are the words of Chinese tennis player Li Na after she became the first Asian woman to win a Grand Slam final in the French Open on June 4.
“People were saying I’m getting old. So this is a great success for such an old woman,” the 29-year-old joked.
This is the way that Li usually fights doubts– by being humorous and sharp. “China’s number one sister” is never a pushover (软弱的人).
She has a tattoo (纹身). She has dyed (染色) her hair many different colors. And, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she told her fans to “shut up” when they got too noisy in their support.
Li started to play tennis at the age of 6. She once recalled: “As a child, I felt sad because every day I had to wake up early to practice. After school I had to practice more. I didn’t have time to play.”
Luckily, the tough girl didn’t give up, thus making history for Chinese tennis time after time.
Now the new champion is already thinking about winning another Grand Slam title. Her next stop is Wimbledon – the European grass court championship that starts later this month.
“When you have one title, naturally you will think about another,” she says, not hiding her ambition.
“Chinese people are so lacking in confidence on the tennis court. If there is a person like me who can prove we can do it, the other young players in China will feel the same,” she said.Li Na is _________.
A.a basketball player | B.a table tennis player |
C.a tennis player | D.a soccer player |
Li Na is the first Asian woman to win a Grand Slam final in______.
A.the Australian Open Tennis Championships |
B.the Wimbledon Championships |
C.the French Open |
D.the American Open |
From the passage, we know Li Na is ______.
A.outgoing | B.fashionable | C.tough | D.All above |
Li Na thinks that Chinese people need _______ in most.
A.independence | B.ability | C.confidence | D.ambition |