Brenda Bongos was a happy, artistic girl. She had one big ambition—to play the drums in a band. But one big obstacle lay in her way. To be good enough to play in a band, Brenda had to practice a lot, but she lived next-door to a lot of old people. Many of them are sick. She knew that the sound of beating drums would really get on their nerves. So, she had tried playing in the strangest places: a basement, a kitchen, and even in a shower. But there was always someone it would annoy.
One day, while watching a science documentary on TV, she heard that sound cannot travel in space, because there's no air. At that moment, Brenda Bongos decided to become a sort of musical astronaut.
With the help of a lot of time, books and work, Brenda built a space bubble. This was a big glass ball connected to a machine which sucked out all the air inside. All that would be left inside was a drum kit (成套设备)and a chair. Brenda got into the space suit she had made, entered the bubble, turned on the machine, and played those drums like a wild child.
It wasn't long before Brenda Bongos came very famous. Many people came to see her play in her space bubble. Shortly afterwards she came out of the bubble and started giving concerts. Her fame spread so much that the government suggested that she be part of a unique space journey. Finally, Brenda was a real musical astronaut, and had gone far beyond her first ambition of playing drums in a band.
Years later, when asked how she had achieved all this, she thought for a moment, and said: "If those old people next - door hadn't mattered so much to me, I wouldn't have found a solution, and none of this would have ever happened."Why did Brenda try to play in the strangest places?
| A．Because she didn't mean to disturb others. |
| B．Because she didn't want others to hear her play. |
| C．Because she didn't have her own room. |
| D．Because she didn’t like her neighbors. |
Brenda started to give concerts _______.
| A．when people came to see her in the space bubble |
| B．when she became part of the unique space journey |
| C．after she became a real musical astronaut |
| D．after she practiced in her space bubble |
Brenda became famous because _______.
| A．she was good at music and science |
| B．she invented a special way of practice |
| C．she became a real musical astronaut |
| D．she played well and had a talent |
Which of the following can be used to describe Brenda?
| A．Lovely, brave and kind. |
| B．Brave, kind and hardworking. |
| C．Kind, hardworking and clever. |
| D．Nervous, kind and clever. |
In today's fast-paced (快节奏) society, few people take time to enjoy the midday meal．Most of us just rush right through it. We grab a quick salad, or buy a sandwich and eat at our computers, Sometimes, if there is a deadline around the corner, we just skip lunch．
The development of technology hasn't done our eating habits much good either．We are constantly distracted by e-mail, social media, and 24 - hour news．Even when we do sit down for lunch, we are more connected to our hand - held electronic devices．
Long working hours can cause all kinds of health problems, and many developed countries have put in place labor laws specifically regarding the lunch break．These laws give employees the right to take a break during a long work shift, but it's up to them whether they do so or not．
Frank Partnoy, a former Wall Street trader, says that employers should encourage workers to take time off for lunch．This is because long lunch breaks can benefit both individuals and society.
Writing in The Guardian, Partnoy says that one obvious reason to take a lunch break is to slow down and gain some perspective（认识）． A break from work allows us to think strategically and outside the box．It also puts our daily tasks into a broader context（背景）．
What we eat at lunch is also important．In Partnoy' s opinion, a fast food lunch is more harmful than not having lunch at all． And it's not just about calories and unhealthy food．Recent studies show that fast food also has negative effects on how we think．
However, if we sit down at a proper restaurant and chat leisurely with colleagues, we are more likely to slow down, something that hardly can be achieved in a noisy and over — packed fast food chain．
Despite these benefits, some employees might still be unwilling to take time off for lunch．Partnoy's suggestion? Make skipping lunch difficult: Employers could ask workers to fill out a form stating their reasons for skipping the meal．What does the underlined phrase "skip lunch" mean in the first paragraph?
| A．have a quick lunch | B．don't have lunch |
| C．work while having lunch | D．take a lunch break |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
| A．Modern technology results in good diet habits． |
| B．Electronic devices make our life comfortable． |
| C．Many people are too busy to have a good lunch． |
| D．Laws have passed to make workers have lunch． |
According to Frank Partnoy, long lunch breaks.
| A．are time for the workers to relax their mind |
| B．make the employees work longer hours |
| C．are for employees to have a quick lunch |
| D．make the workers eat a proper lunch at home |
In Partnoy's opinion, a fast food lunch.
| A．saves a lot of time for a rest |
| B．affects people's way of thinking |
| C．is better than having no lunch |
| D．makes workers sit down and think |
What might be the author's purpose in writing the text?
| A．To warn us not to eat fast food． |
| B．To introduce Frank Partnoy's opinion． |
| C．To encourage us to work more efficiently． |
| D．To show the importance of a proper lunch． |
Mu Yumin had no idea that when he stopped by the computer club as a freshman looking for something fun, it would decide his career four years later．The 22 -year -old biology major at Huazhong University of Science and Technology found a job as an IT technician in Shanghai．" My experience in the club gave me another 'diploma' ," said Mu．" More importantly, I found something I am good at and can make a living from．"
Now campuses(校园) around the country have started recruiting（吸收某人为新成员） fresh faces for all kinds of clubs．Upperclassmen and experts suggest a hobby-based choice of clubs, which might have a lasting impact（影响）on one' s life and career Zhang Ling did not get many chances to write stories as an environmental protection major at Jiangxi University of Science and Technology．But this changed when she joined the university broadcast station．Her daily interviews with students and teachers expanded her horizon．Now she is determined to become a journalist on environmental issues with her degree in environmental protection．"Journalism changed my life track," said the 22 –year-old girl．"I only wanted to be a science teacher in a local senior high school．But now I am applying for a graduate school in journalism."
Lan Yujie, professor at Anhui University of Technology, regards Mu and Zhang as good examples of choosing "what I like" instead of " what is practical" in finding jobs and seeking further study． "Some freshmen don't know what to choose," said Lan．"Just following a hobby and doing something you like can easily give you the experience that makes you happy and special．"
Lan further says that joining clubs should not necessarily have a purpose, As part of campus life, a club experience will impact one's life and career m one way or another．"The point of clubs is to have as many diverse（多样的）experiences as possible so that students can explore more of their life," said Lan．Why did Mu Yumin join the computer club?
A．To get another diplomA. B．To change his major．
C．To find a good joB.D．To have a good time．Which of the followings is true about Zhang Ling?
| A．She didn't intend to be a journalist． |
| B．She changed her major to journalism． |
| C．She now works as a science teacher |
| D．She's graduated from the university． |
According to the text, joining the campus club has many advantages EXCEPT.
| A．helping you know what you really like |
| B．making you plan your career better |
| C．helping you to make more friends |
| D．obtaining more life experiences |
What can we learn from Lan Yujie's words in the last paragraph?
| A．Club experiences will affect students' life and career |
| B．Students should be practical in finding jobs |
| C．Joining clubs should have a clear goal． |
| D．Students will have a colorful campus life by joining clubs． |
What is the main idea of the text?
| A．How to change your major． |
| B．Joining a campus club for a diploma． |
| C．How to find a job after graduation |
| D．Joining a club to explore more of your life． |
GAOMI, Shandong, Oct．11（ Xinhua）—Chinese writer Mo Yan said last Thursday that he was "very surprised" at winning the Nobel Literature Prize．
Speaking to reporters at a hotel in his hometown Gaomi city in east China's Shandong Province, Mo said, " （I was）very surprised upon winning the prize because I felt I was not very senior in terms of qualification （ among Chinese writers）．There are many good writers and my ranking was not so high．"
"I am very happy," he saiD."I was having dinner when I received the news．I was surprised．”
"Thank you for coming all the way to Gaomi．This should be a season of red sorghum, but no such crop is planted any more． I believe none of you have seen the crop," he said．
"The Nobel Literature Prize is a very important literature prize, but not the top awarD.It represents the opinions of the jury（评审团 ）．I am satisfied with my major works and I still keep writing by hand．My works are Chinese literature, which is part of world literature．They show the life of Chinese people as well as the country's unique culture and folk customs．Meanwhile, my novels described human beings in the broad sense．I wrote in the perspective of a human being．These works stand beyond regions and ethnic groups," he said．
"The folk arts and folk culture accompanied my growth and I was influenced by the cultural elements I witnessed through my childhood．When I picked up the pen for literature creation, the folk cultural elements inevitably entered my novels and affected and even determined the artistic styles of my works," he added．
Mo's win brought joy to other writers and readers throughout the country as he is the first Chinese national to win the Nobel Literature Prize in its century-long history．
Born into a farmer's family in a village in Gaomi, Mo has been known since the late 1980s for his novels such as Big Breasts and Wide Hips and Red Sorghum（红高粱）, which was later adapted into a film by director Zhang Yimou．Mo Yan was surprised at winning the Nobel Prize because he felt________.
| A．he was not as famous as other writers |
| B．he was not the best writer in China |
| C．he was born in a farmer's family |
| D．he didn't have good education |
According to Mo Yan,.
| A．red sorghum should be planted in his hometown |
| B．the Nobel Prize represents the opinions of the public |
| C．he still keeps the habit of writing by hand |
| D．his novels described human beings of all regions |
By reading Mo Yan's works, we can.
| A．increase our sense of national pride |
| B．learn a lot about the Chinese folk culture |
| C．form a vivid picture of his childhood |
| D．learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize |
Which of the following words can best describe Mo Yan?
| A．modest | B．self--confident | C．humorous | D．romantic |
Where might you find the article?
| A．In a novel． | B．In a travel book |
| C．In a newspaper． | D．In a student book |
It was January lst, the first day of the year and a holiday for me．I went to the bank to get the bank work out of the way. The bank clerk nodded and I sat in front of him． He was busy filling up entries in his register．
I put my form and booklet in front of him．After waiting for a few more minutes, in which I showed all signs of being impatient, I asked him if my work was done． He shouted, "Nothing is done, and it will take time ! "
Just then I saw his morning cup of tea, which had been lying there for the last ten minutes, untoucheD.The tea had turned almost cold while he was doing his work．Suddenly I felt what this man must be feeling when customers like me come always in a hurry to get their work done． We do not even feel the need to thank them for being there．
So I told him, "Sir, please have your teA.I am not in a hurry． " This man suddenly looked up at me and for the first time we had eye contact．I saw a different person there, who was as hard-pressed for time as I always am．
I saw both of us sailing in the same boat. I felt that he was also missing the small things in life like a hot cup of tea or lying in a warm bed for a few more minutes like me．He gave me a rare smile and said, "It is an everyday affair with me; you are not in a hurry but somebody else will be．
He really touched my heart with his wise words． I felt that all this time I thought of him as someone who was there for my convenience, but today I suddenly felt a strange communion with him. I vowed(郑重宣布) to be friendly with people who help me with my work and be thankful that they are there for me．Which of the following is NOT true of the writer?
| A．He works in the bank as a clerk, too． |
| B．He went to the bank to do some business． |
| C．He was touched by the untouched cup of tea． |
| D．He got annoyed after waiting a few minutes． |
What can we learn about the bank clerk?
| A．He hated to work on a holiday . |
| B．He didn't like his work in the bank. |
| C．He was under great work pressure． |
| D．He communicated well with his customers． |
What can you learn from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 5?
| A．He was sometimes in the similar situation． |
| B．They once sailed in the same boat． |
| C．They expected to sail in the same boat． |
| D．He's too busy to sail in a boat, too． |
The writer's attitude towards the bank clerk might be that of.
| A．tolerance | B．gratitude | C．sympathy | D．satisfaction |
What does the text try to tell us?
| A．To be patient with your customers |
| B．Helping others is helping yourself |
| C．To be thankful to those who help you. |
| D．It is our duty to do things for others |
When Geoff Marcy was 14, his parents bought him a telescope. Every night, he would go onto the roof outside his window to see the wonders of the sky.
“What excited me most was whether there were planets in other solar systems where life might exist,” he says. “I decided to try to find planets orbiting other stars like our Sun.”
And he did. “My fellow researcher, Paul Butler, and I found our first planet in 1995,” Dr. Marcy says. “We worked for ten years without finding anything! But we stuck with it and our patience paid off.”
Since then, the two scientists have discovered 65 of the more than 100 planets found orbiting other stars. Dr. Marcy and Dr. Butler also spotted the first “family” of three planets. In June 2002 they announced another discovery: a Jupiter-like planet orbiting star 55Cancri.
At first, the two researchers found only planets that orbit close to stars. Recently, the scientists found planets farther out. The planet orbiting 55Cancri is a major breakthrough: it is the first sighting of a large gas planet about same distance from the star as Jupiter is from the Sun.
Why is this important ? Scientists think that life on Earth may exist because of two special features in our solar system. The first is Jupiter.
“Because it’s so big, Jupiter pulls comets and asteroids(小行星), or they all come and hit the Earth.” Dr. Marcy explains. “Without Jupiter , life on Earth would likely have been destroyed.”
A second feature is that Earth is a rocky planet where liquid water, which is necessary for life , can exist. Unlike gas planets, rocky planets like Earth have surfaces where water can gather in pools and seas, which may support life. A huge space exists between the Jupiter-like planet and two other planets that lie close to 55Cancri. Is there an Earth-like planet in the space, too small for us to notice? If so, says Dr. Marcy, “We would have two striking similarities to our solar system: a Jupiter-like planet and an Earth-like planet. And there may be life!”What can we learn about Dr. Marcy from the passage?
| A．He is fond of watching Jupiter. |
| B．He is from a scientist family. |
| C．He dislikes working with Paul Butler. |
| D．He is interested in finding life in outer space. |
Which of the following is true of the recent discovery?
| A．The planet is not as protective as Jupiter. |
| B．The planet is close to star 55Cancri. |
| C．The planet proves to be a gas planet. |
| D．The planet is as large as Jupiter. |
Dr. Marcy and Dr. Butler began to find new planets in ____.
| A．1995 | B．1985 | C．2002 | D．1981 |
Dr. Marcy thinks that life may exist in the 55Cancri system because ____.
| A．he has found the system similar to the solar system. |
| B．he has discovered an Earth-like planet there. |
| C．he has discovered a rocky planet there. |
| D．he has found signs of life in the system |
“But we stuck with it”( in Paragraph 3) means ____.
| A．they felt discouraged | B．they carried on with it |
| C．they failed in their attempt | D．they made some progress |