What I like to advise people is to find out what it is that makes them happy. What do you love to do? If you truly love what you do just go ahead and try to make a living by doing it. People will throw money at you to do it. But you will always have to work hard at it. I have to draw every single day of my life. I have to draw about 20 ideas. My advice is to put aside a certain amount of time every day and make you draw or whatever, especially when you don’t feel like it. Only in this way will you be able to perfect your talent.
The first step you take is to go to your local library and ask for the publications issued in the current years. When you get these publications, try to find the names of the top people concerned and their presidents. After you find these, write down their names and addresses. Keep this list and update it every year. Next thing you want to do is to create at least 40 cartoons. Get a grid（格子） from one of the strips in the newspapers, enlarge it to whatever size you wish and draw inside this grid. Now take the best 20 of your ideas and make them into finished pieces. To do this, you would want to copy them in ink because if you were a professional cartoonist, that was what you should do. Now you can reduce the size of the finished cartoons to fit onto a regular comic’s page. By comparing yours with the others already in print, it gives you a good idea of clarity to your cartoon.
The next step is to write letters to presidents of the publication. In the letters, explain who you think would read your work, or in other words, what group do you think you would target. After you complete these, send all of your information enclosed with letters in the appropriate envelope.
Now as soon as you send out these letters, start to create a brand new strip with all new characters. Don’t get married to one idea because if your idea gets turned down then you will give up. And always remember. If you receive a rejection from any of them, keep in mind that you are working on something better. You will be working on something new and more exciting and the rejection letter will not have any impact. With this in mind…What is the advice from the writer in the first paragraph when you want to succeed in your life?
| A．Stop doing anything until you find something quite suitable for your future career. |
| B．Put aside a certain amount of time every day to consider how to make a living. |
| C．Make a living by something that you truly like to do as your profession and work hard at it. |
| D．Perfect your talent only by drawing some cartoons. |
The purpose of writing a letter to the president was to ____.
| A．get some money to support the later career |
| B．enclose the information on how to become cartoonists with the letter |
| C．focus his attention on the work |
| D．explain who would be the readers of the work |
The underlined phrase “get married to one idea” in the last paragraph probably refers to ______.
| A．having a strong desire to get married |
| B．fixing all attention on one idea |
| C．marrying someone is a good ideas |
| D．refusing one idea to get married |
On a stormy day last August, Tim heard some shouting. Looking out to the sea carefully, he saw a couple of kids in a rowboat were being pulled out to sea.
Two 12-year-old boys, Christian and Jack, rowed out a boat to search a football. Once they’d rowed beyond the calm waters, a beach umbrella tied to the boat caught the wind and pulled the boat into open water. The pair panicked and tried to row back to shore. But they were no match for it and the boat was out of control.
Tim knew it would soon be swallowed by the waves.
“Everything went quiet in my head,” Tim recalls（回忆）. “I’m trying to figure out how to swim to the boys in a straight line.”
Tim took off his clothes and jumped into the water. Every 500 yards or so, he raised his head to judge his progress. “At one point, I considered turning back,” he says. “I wondered if I was putting my life at risk.” After 30 minutes of struggling, he was close enough to yell to the boys, “Take down the umbrella!”
Christian made much effort to take down the umbrella. Then Tim was able to catch up and climb aboard the boat. He took over rowing, but the waves were almost too strong for him.
“Let’s aim for the pier（码头）,” Jack said. Tim turned the boat toward it. Soon afterward, waves crashed over the boat, and it began to sink. “Can you guys swim?” he cried. “A little bit,” the boys said.
Once they were in the water, Tim decided it would be safer and faster for him to pull the boys toward the pier. Christian and Jack were wearing life jackets and floated on their backs. Tim swam toward land as water washed over the boys’ faces.
“Are we almost there?” they asked again and again. “Yes,” Tim told them each time.
After 30 minutes, they reached the pier.Why did the two boys go to the sea?
| A．To go boat rowing. |
| B．To get back their football. |
| C．To swim in the open water. |
| D．To test the umbrella as a sail. |
What does “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．The beach | B．The water |
| C．The boat | D．The wind |
Why did Tim raise his head regularly?
| A．To take in enough fresh air. |
| B．To consider turning back or not. |
| C．To check his distance from the boys. |
| D．To ask the boys to take down the umbrella. |
How can the two boys finally reach the pier?
| A．They were dragged to the pier by Tim. |
| B．They swam to the pier all by themselves. |
| C．They were washed to the pier by the waves. |
| D．They were carried to the pier by Tim on his back. |
A treasure trove hidden for centuries has been discovered in the underground vaults(墓穴)of a temple in southern India. The treasures include gold, diamonds and precious stones. The estimated value of the hoard is reportedly 22 billion US dollars.
Hundreds of armed police have been deployed around the temple. Meanwhile, a debate about how to use the money has also broken out across the country. After discovering the treasure trove in Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in the southern Indian state of Kerala, the local government has assured security of the temple.
Elaborating on the security arrangements, Venugopalan Nair, Additional Director General of the Kerala Police, says the latest security devices are being used to guard the temple.
Venugopalan Nair, Additional Dir. Gen. of Kerala Police, said, "We are trying to bring in the latest technology with regards to surveillance(监视) cameras, with regards to, you know digitalizing the various things which are available inside. We are keeping a constant sort of surveillance for every movement, which happens in the whole area surrounding the temple."
According to temple authorities, the crowd at the temple has increased steeply after news of the discovery of the treasure trove. And the Administrative Officer of the Temple says the government has initiated appropriate steps to control the curious crowds visiting the temple.
G. Jayasekharan Nair, administrative officer, said, "To control the crowds the government itself is taking a lot of measures. They are trying to do whatever is possible from the premises of the temple. Apart from all that, the government has taken a favorable step and we are satisfied with them."
Over the last week, a seven-member team of investigators broke into five secret subterranean vaults, and discovered jewels that have been lying untouched for hundreds of years.
As estimates of the treasures' worth rise, a fierce debate is growing regarding what to do with the discovery. Kerala's top elected leader said the wealth would remain with the temple, while others say it should be used to pay for poverty alleviation(扶贫). However, the government is adhering to the Supreme Court's ruling on ownership of the treasure found in the temple.How will the government deal with the treasure mentioned in the passage?
| A．It will be used to pay for poverty alleviation. |
| B．It will be returned to its owner. |
| C．It will be kept in the vaults. |
| D．It hasn’t been decided yet. |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The treasures include gold, diamonds and some old coins. |
| B．The treasure trove has been lying unknown for hundreds of years before it is discovered. |
| C．The local people are very curious about the treasure and the temple. |
| D．The whole area surrounding the temple is under close watch. |
What G.Jayasekharan Nair said means that.
| A．what the government does means little |
| B．the crowd will make trouble without proper control |
| C．more effective measures should be taken |
| D．the temple is of great value |
What do working mothers worry about the most? It's the kids of course. Whatever the setting, the question I get asked the most is "Will the kids be alright?" It has made me realize that we tend to look at the glass half-empty rather than half-filled when it comes to mixing work and family. We forget about all the benefits that we bring to our children when we work - and I'm not talking about the obvious financial benefits, although these of course shouldn't be taken for granted.
About a year ago I remember getting a call from the school just as I was pulling up to the house after having driven 20 minutes to the school and 20 minutes back. "Mrs. Brown Quinn, your son asked us to call. He forgot his sports clothes. Can you come back to the school and drop them off?" I was exasperated(恼火)! I had already spent 40 minutes in aggressive weekday morning traffic. I replied, "Sorry, I'm working at the moment. I'm afraid my son needs to learn to be organized."
Being a good parent requires delivering tough love sometimes. Kids need to learn to be independent. It can be a cruel and competitive world out there. Seeking interests, including business, outside of your kids, can give you that extra idea that you need not care for your kids with attention. This benefit of working isn't always immediately evident.
It wasn't until our daughter went away to college that she realized why we had raised her in the way that we did. "Mom, I can't believe how so many of my friends struggle to manage things on their own. They are constantly calling their parents for help." You'll love that moment! After all those years of complaining about why you don't do this or why you don't give them that, your kids realize that tough love has made them better people.The purpose of the author is to ______.
| A．describe her own experience in raising children |
| B．advise us to mix work and family |
| C．throw light on a special benefit of working |
| D．argue for working mothers |
How can kids become better people according to the author?
| A．By showing them your deep love. |
| B．By giving them all your attention. |
| C．By giving them tough love. |
| D．By giving them freedom to do things on their own. |
The daughter's attitude towards the author is ______ when she grows up.
| A．understanding | B．caring |
| C．disappointed | D．surprised |
The author refused to drop off her son's sports clothes because ______.
| A．she wanted her son to be organized |
| B．she was caught in heavy traffic |
| C．she thought her son was lying |
| D．she was busy working |
Technology is making life easier for some dairy farmers. They use robotic systems to milk their cows. Cows are trained to follow a series of paths that lead to milking stations. Only one cow at a time can enter a station.
Once inside，the cow is rewarded with food. As the cow eats，a robotic arm cleans and connects the animal to the milking machine. A few minutes later，milking is complete. The gate is opened，the cow is released and the next cow enters.
The robotic systems are designed to operate 24 hours a day. The cows get to decide when they want to be milked. Cows are milked an average of about three times a day. Some are milked four to six times a day.
The cows wear collars around their necks that identify them to the system. A computer keeps records on their eating and milking. A cow is released from the station if the computer decides it should not be milked.
The automated system also measures the temperature and color of freshly produced milk. Milk is thrown away if it does not pass the tests.
Professor Plaut believes the systems will appeal especially to the next generation of farmers. She means young people who are more interested in technology and less interested in working all the time on the farm. Still，she says the price of robotic milking systems will continue to limit their use.
Doug and Tina Suhr have more than 100 cows on their family farm. Last year it became the fourth farm in southeast Minnesota to get a robotic milking system. A recent story in a local agricultural newspaper said the first robot costs 175,000 dollars. The second costs 150,000 dollars.
Doug told AgriNews that wages that would have been paid for one employee in five years will pay for one robot. He says the increase in milk production reaches a high of more than six kilograms per cow per day.According to Doug，what is the wage of an employee per year?
| A．$150,000～$175,000. | B．$150,000～$30,000. |
| C．$30,000～$35,000. | D．over $75,000. |
Besides milking cows，the robotic system also can ________.
| A．judge the quality of fresh milk |
| B．keep fresh milk for two weeks |
| C．adjust the temperature of milking stations |
| D．improve the appetite of cows |
Why is the robotic system not popular now?
| A．Because it usually causes the waste of milk. |
| B．Because it is difficult to learn how to use it. |
| C．Because young people have no interest in it. |
| D．Because people can't afford to buy it. |
From the first paragraph，we can infer ________.
| A．cows can be raised by robots in the future |
| B．robots direct cows into milking stations |
| C．the robotic system is designed to reduce labor |
| D．cows are kept clean by robots on some farms |
I always experienced guilt when I passed by without giving a coin or two to a beggar.
My conscience was pricked again on a tour of Venice in 2010. I had taken refuge from the crowds in a quiet canal-side café. Outside the café was an old woman kneeling on the ancient cobbled stones, begging. Steady streams of tourists were walking past her. A lone young back-packer stood away from the crowds drinking something, but I noticed he was also observing the woman.
A tourist group glanced at the woman and walked on. Another group of tourists arrived and, again, walked past her. The backpacker watched. Then, as I prepared to leave, I stopped at the sight of the backpacker stepping forward and placing some money in the woman’s cup. He did this rather ostentatiously（炫耀地）, just before the arrival of another tourist group. I watched as the leader of the group stopped and put some money in the cup. Having been shown the way, other tourists followed suit and added more coins to the woman’s cup.
The young backpacker repeated this process in front of the next tour party going past. Once again, the subtle peer （同伴）pressure worked on the tourists, who all added coins to the cup. His work done, the young man walked over to the old beggar woman, patted her shoulder and said, “I hope that helps a bit.”
I don’t know if the woman understood his English or realized what had just happened, but I did. I placed some money in the woman’s cup and continued my travels, light-hearted after witnessing such an act of caring.The backpacker placed some money in the woman’s cup rather ostentatiously because______.
| A．he wanted to stop the tourists by doing this |
| B．he wanted people to know that he was rich and kind |
| C．he wanted to help the woman by himself |
| D．he wanted the tourist group to follow him |
The author went to a quiet canal-side cafe to_______ .
| A．avoid meeting the beggar |
| B．get away from the crowds |
| C．take a rest |
| D．watch the woman beggar |
We can infer from the passage that ________ .
| A．tourists can be cheated by beggars |
| B．people usually have pity on an old beggar |
| C．tourists are willing to help beggars |
| D．people can do kind acts due to peer pressure |
Before the backpacker dropped some money in the woman’s cup, the tourists ______ .
| A．all showed pity for the woman |
| B．didn’t notice the woman |
| C．walked by without giving any money |
| D．gave a little money to the woman |