My daughter Alisa was born blind in her right eye and was bullied (欺侮) pretty severely in school. So I quitted my job as a babysitter and then schooled my daughter heart and soul at home.
A year ago a boy of 14 befriended my daughter on Facebook after reading something Alisa wrote about bullying. Today he messaged her and asked if she would like six tickets to a Colorado Rockies baseball game. They have never met in person but she said, “Sure! That would be great.”
Then I received a call from his mother explaining why her son had chosen my daughter. She said he thought my daughter deserved them because of all the good she does in the community. Her son, she explained, had experienced a similar situation and was also home schooled.
What she said is true. Now my daughter Alisa continues to teach groups of girls in trouble in our community how to look within themselves for the positive and how to be their own person.
Everything taken into consideration, we decided to meet the mother and the boy at a local bike shop. After meeting, the boy approached my car and my daughter gave him a hug and thanked him for his generosity. She told him that she had never been to a baseball game and that she was going to take her entire family, including myself, her dad, little sister, her cousin and an aunt who has brain cancer.
We all thanked one another, got in our car, and went our way. As we drove home my daughter opened the envelope. Inside it were the tickets and ＄100 each to buy hot dogs, pay for parking and not have any worries but a great time.
My daughter has always been the giver and now she and our family are the receivers and I can not tell you how incredibly honored we feel to be on the other end. What an incredible young man to have such a kind idea.What did the author once do according to the passage?
| A．She was a ticket seller. | B．She was a school teacher. |
| C．She was a babysitter. | D．She was a social worker. |
How did the boy get to know my daughter?
| A．They met when buying tickets to a baseball game. |
| B．They got in touch via the Internet. |
| C．They became familiar when talking face to face. |
| D．They went to the same school and met each other. |
Why did the boy want to offer free tickets to Alisa?
| A．Because Alisa is a disabled girl. |
| B．Because he has a lot money to share. |
| C．Because Alisa often helps those in trouble. |
| D．Because he has a similar situation with Alisa. |
What can we learn about the boy?
| A．He is afraid of meeting strangers. |
| B．He always bullies smaller children. |
| C．He is addicted to the internet. |
| D．He receives education at home. |
Which of the following best describes the passage?
| A．Good is rewarded with good. |
| B．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| C．Two heads are better than one. |
| D．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
Things to See & Do in Dublin
Dublin City Hall
Inside City Hall is an interesting exhibition about Dublin’s history, with historical items from the old city and multimedia presentations. The building, which dates from 1779, once badly damaged, was recently renovated.Guided tours are available.Open Monday to Saturday 10:00a.m.~5:15p.m., Sunday and holidays 2:00 p.m.~5:00 p.m. Admission is €6.50. Phone 672- 2204.
Dublin Castle
This is a joy for anyone interested in archaeology or history. Dublin Castle was built in the 13th century on top of the foundations of a Viking structure. The castle served as a military fortress, prison, court of law and the core (核心) of British administration in Ireland until 1922. It’s now used for state functions and government conferences. Guided tours are available. Open Monday to Friday 10:00a.m.~4:50p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays 2:00p.m.~4:50p.m. Closed during state functions. Admission is €4.50. Phone 677- 7129 or 677- 7270.
Trinity College
The sole college of the University of Dublin, Trinity was founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592. The reason most visitors venture to Trinity is to take a look at the Book of Kells, which is on display at the Old Library. The ticket price includes admission to the Long Room, a striking space that contains 200,000 of the college’s oldest books. Open Monday to Saturday 9.30am~5pm, Sunday noon~4:30 p.m. (from 9:30 a.m. June to September). College Green. Phone 608 -1177.
Irish Museum of Modern Art
Housed in the beautifully restored (修复) Royal Hospital Kilmainham (which was modelled (复制) on Les Invalides in Paris), the museum exhibits contemporary art and has an impressive permanent collection that includes pieces representing the cutting edge of Irish and international art. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 a.m.~5:30p.m., Sunday and holidays noon~5:30 p.m. The museum has no admission charge Military Road, Kilmainham Phone 612- 9900.
James Joyce Centre
James Joyce is one of Dublin’s most famous 20th century writers. Author of such works as Dubliners, Ulysses and his autobiographical novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Joyce’s name is forever linked to the city of Dublin. The James Joyce Centre is dedicated to promoting the life and works of James Joyce to novices and scholars alike. Open Tues.~Sat.10:00a.m.~5:00p.m., Sun.1: p.m.~5:00p.m., admission costs €5.00 for adults. North Great George’s Street. Phone 878- 8547.What can we know from the passage?
| A．Dublin Castle was used for government conferences. |
| B．The novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is about James Joyce’s life. |
| C．Dublin Castle served as a court of law in the 1930s. |
| D．The sole college of the University of Dublin was established by Queen Elizabeth II. |
Which word can replace the underlined word “renovated” in the first paragraph?
| A．repaired | B．reviewed |
| C．recreated | D．destroyed |
Which place do you pay the most money to visit?
| A．Dublin City Hall. | B．Dublin Castle. |
| C．Irish Museum of Modern Art. | D．James Joyce Centre. |
A scientist turns out to be able to see the future by offering each of some four-year-olds a piece of candy and watching how he or she deals with it. Some children reach eagerly for the treat they see. Some last a few minutes before they give in. But others are determined to wait until the last moment. By the time the children reach high school, something remarkable has happened. A survey found that those who as four-year-olds had enough self-control to hold out generally grew up to be more popular, adventurous, confident and dependable. The children who gave in to temptation(诱惑) early on were more likely to be lonely, easily frustrated(沮丧)and inflexible(固守己见的). Actually, the ability to delay reward is a sign of emotional intelligence which doesn't show up on an IQ test.
The hardware of the brain and the software of the mind have long been scientists' concerns. But brain theory can't explain what we wonder about most, like the question why some people remain upbeat in the face of troubles that would sink a less resistant soul. Here comes the theory of Daniel Goleman, writer of Emotional Intelligence: when it comes to predicting people's success, brain ability as measured by IQ may actually matter less than the qualities of mind once thought of as "character".
EQ is not the opposite of IQ. What researchers have been trying to understand is how they work together; how one's ability to handle stress, for instance, affects the ability to concentrate and put intelligence to use. Among the ingredients(要素) for success, researchers now generally agree that IQ counts for about 20%; the rest depends on everything from social class to luck.
While many researchers in this relatively new field are glad to see emotional issues finally taken seriously, some few fear EQ invites misuse.Which of the following is true of EQ and IQ according to the text?
| A．The higher a person's EQ is, the higher his or her IQ is. |
| B．The higher a person's IQ is, the higher his or her EQ is. |
| C．Some people can be blessed with lots of both, but some with little of either. |
| D．Scientists have already discovered the way in which EQ and IQ work together. |
The underlined word "upbeat" in Paragraph 2 probably means _____.
| A．kind | B．optimistic | C．excited | D．floating |
Why does the author mention the experiment at the beginning of the text?
| A．To introduce the topic of the text. |
| B．To prove the scientist's wisdom. |
| C．To amuse both the children and readers. |
| D．To show us how to do an IQ test. |
What is most likely to be written in the paragraph that follows?
| A．Information about famous people with high EQ. |
| B．Examples showing the opposite voice about EQ. |
| C．Some reasons why EQ is a relatively new field. |
| D．Strong demand for basic emotional education. |
It was the end of my first senior year. I was riding with my friends, and a bottle of beer was passed around the car. Everyone was taking swigs(一大口). When the bottle got to me, I thought:“What should I do?”I took a swig. It was the biggest mistake of my life. I had to drive home later that night.
I went back to my car, got in and drove off. At a stop sign I saw a policeman sitting in the parking lot across the street. His headlights were turned on, and I knew he was going to follow me. Then he flashed his lights at me. All I could think was:“Oh no, that swig!”
I pulled over and waited for him to come to my door. It felt like forever.“Can I see your license and registration, please, Miss?”I gave them to him. He took them and went back to his car for a while. When he returned, he asked if I had been drinking.
“No,”I said. He asked me to step out of my car.
“Walk heel to toe down the white line, please.” I passed the test. Next he had me stand on my left foot, lift my right foot and hold it for 30 seconds. I’m not the most coordinated (动作协调的) person and I can’t even walk and chew gum at the same time, so, needless to say, I didn’t pass. Then he asked me to take a breathalyzer test.
That was where I messed up. I told him I didn’t want to and didn’t understand why I had to. The officer asked me three more times, and I continued to refuse. He told me to turn around and place my hands behind my back. He arrested me right then and there.
The policeman drove me to a police station 20 minutes from my home. He called my parents and told them where I was.
I went to court two months after that, charged with refusing to obey an officer. I got a $700 (4,340 yuan) fine and 40 hours of community service. I’ll be on probation (缓刑) for a year, and I’ll have to take the driving test again. I lost my license for a whole year.
This was a huge learning experience for me. It opened my eyes to how easy it is to make a stupid decision. I want everyone reading this to know that it’s not right to drink and drive. It definitely isn’t worth losing your license over.What can we infer from the first paragraph?
| A．The author didn’t remember she had to drive home later when riding with her friends. |
| B．The author felt just one mouthful would not affect her driving. |
| C．The author wished she had refused to drink that night. |
| D．The author lost her driving license on the way. |
What did the policeman ask the author to do at the stop sign?
a. Show her driving license.
b. Walk in a straight line.
c. Stand on her head.
d. Stand on one foot for 30 seconds.
e. Take her temperature.
| A．a, b, d | B．a, c, d |
| C．b, c, e | D．b, d, e |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?
| A．The author was in jail for 40 hours and had to do community service. |
| B．The author thought her punishment shouldn’t be so serious. |
| C．The author believed she would have avoided punishment if she had obeyed the policeman. |
| D．The author was really sorry that she had made a serious mistake. |
The article wants to ______.
| A．show that severe punishment works. |
| B．explain how policemen test drivers. |
| C．warn people against driving after drinking. |
| D．blame the author’s thoughtless friends. |
Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia, I saw a small pool of water ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water or mud. As I reached the pool, I was suddenly attacked!
Yet I did nothing for the attack. It was so unpredictable and from somewhere totally unexpected. I was surprised as well as unhurt though I had been struck four or five times. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing. And I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!
Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He charged towards me at full speed, attempting to hurt me but in vain. For a second time, I took a step backwards while my attacker paused. I wasn't sure what to do. After all, it’s just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly. I stepped back to look the situation over. My attacker moved back to land on the ground. That's when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying.
Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it up on himself to attack me for his mate’s sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large. He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life. Should I have been careless enough to step on her? His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate’s safety seemed admirable. I couldn’t do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the pool. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed.
Since then, I’ve used that butterfly’s courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for.The writer changed his direction while walking down a path because he wanted_______.
| A．to get close to a butterfly |
| B．to escape a sudden attack |
| C．to look over the bad situation |
| D．to avoid getting his shoes dirty |
From the passage we can learn that the attacker _________.
| A．struck the author four or five times and made him badly hurt |
| B．paused until the author took a step backwards |
| C．thought it was the author who caused the death of his mate |
| D．attacked the author for his mate’s safety and to accompany her for the last moments of life. |
From this experience the man learned_____.
| A．butterflies are brave insects |
| B．the small can defeat the large |
| C．how to deal with challenges in his life |
| D．people should try their best to fight for everything |
Which of the following words can best describe the butterfly?
| A．amusing | B．ambitious |
| C．courageous | D．aggressive |
Westminster Abbey, founded in 1065, was the King’s place of residence until the 16th century. Since 1066, the Norman Conquest, it has been the “Royal church”—the place where kings and queens are crowned when they take the throne(即位).
It has also been the site of many royal weddings and funerals. King George VI, got married there in 1923; twenty four years later, his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Phillip there; on April 29, 2011, Prince William also married Kate Middleton there. While fourteen years ago, the funeral service for Princess Diana, William’s mother, took place there.
It is also famous for its Poets’ Corner, which has been the traditional burial ground of the most famous English poets, writers and playwrights.
Today it is still a working church dedicated to regular worship and to the celebration of great events in the life of the nation. All are welcome to attend the regular services.
| Address |
Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, London, SW1P3PA |
|
| Nearest Tube Station |
Westminster St. James’ s Park |
|
| Opening Times |
Monday to Saturday:9:30 am---4.30 pm Wednesday:9:30 am---7:00pm(last admission 6:00pm) Saturday:9:30pm---2:30pm(last admission1:30pm) |
|
| Tickets: |
Individuals: Adult ￡18.00 |
Over 18 students: ￡15.00 (on production of a valid student card) Schoolchildren(11—18years old) ￡8.00 Child under 11 free accompanied by an adult |
Do pay a visit to the Poets’Corner, where are tombs and memorials for such well---known writers as Geoffery Chaucer---father of English Literature, Charles Dickens, and Thomas Hardy(Refer to next page for more or surf its official website:www.westminister-abbey.org). The Grave of the Unknown Warrior is an attractive story of a body brought back from France after the First World War.College Garden is thought to the oldest garden in England at nearly 1,000 years old.According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Westminster Abbey has been the king’s residence for over 1,000 years. |
| B．About fifty years after Queen Elizabeth II got married, Princess Diana died. |
| C．All famous English poets, writers and playwrights can be buried in the Abbey. |
| D．From Monday to Saturday, one can visit the Abbey at any time in the day. |
How much will a couple with two children(aged 17 and 19) at least pay for a visit to the Abbey?
| A．￡62 | B．￡59 | C．￡50 | D．￡48 |
Famous sights in the Abbey are recommended to see EXCEPT________.
| A．the Poet’s Corner | B．the Grave of the Unknown Warrior |
| C．the College Garden | D．St. James’s Park |
This passage is most likely from a(n) ________.
| A．advertisement | B．website |
| C．guidebook | D．Poster |