A Leap to Honor
Leaping on a narrow balance beam(平衡木) is not easy. But Lola Walter, a 13-year-old gymnast, is an expert at it.
To perfect her skills, Lola for four hours a day, five days a week. At the state championships in March, she finished seventh out of 16 girls.
That’s especially impressive, she is legally blind, born with a rare condition that causes her eyes to shift constantly. She often sees double and can’t how far away things are.
When she was little, her mom that even though she couldn’t see , she was fearless. So her mom signed her up for gymnastics when she was three. She loved the right away and gymnastics became her favorite.
Though learning gymnastics has been more for her than for some of her tournaments, she has never quit. She doesn’t let her stop her from doing anything that she wants to.
She likes the determination it takes to do the sport. Her biggest is the balance beam. Because she has double vision, she often sees two beams. She must use her sense of touch to help her during her routine. Sometimes she even closes her eyes. “You have to your mind that it’ll take you where you want to go.” says Lola.
To be a top-level gymnast, one must be brave. The beam is probably the most for anyone because it’s four inches wide. At the state competition, Lola didn’t fall the beam. In fact, she got an 8.1 out of 10---- her highest score yet.
Lola doesn’t want to be differently from the other girls on her team. At the competitions, the judges don’t know about her vision . She doesn’t tell them, because she doesn’t think they need to know. Her mom is amazed by her attitude.
Lola never thinks about . She is presently at Level 7 while the highest is Level 10 in gymnastics. Her is to reach Level 9. She says she wants to be a gymnastics coach to pass down what she’s learned to other kids she grew up.
Lola is of all her hard work and success. She says it’s helped her overcome problems in her life outside gymnastics, too. Her for others is “just believe yourself”.
A．runs B．teaches C．trains D．dances
A．since B．unless C．after D．though
A．tell B．guess C．assume D．predict
A．suspected B．remembered C．imagined D．noticed
A．deeply B．well C．ahead D．closely
A．task B．sport C．event D．show
A．boring B．enjoyable C．different D．unsatisfactory
A．talent B．quality C．nature D．condition
A．doubt B．advantage C．challenge D．program
A．examine B．express C．open D．trust
A．fearful B．harmful C．unfair D．inconvenient
A．to B．on C．off D．against
A．greeted B．treated C．served D．paid
A．pains B．stresses C．injuries D．problems
A．positive B．friendly C．flexible D．caution
A．defending B．quitting C．winning D．bargaining
A．standard B．range C．view D．goal
A．until B．as C．when D．before
A．proud B．tired C．ashamed D．confident
A．plan B．advice C．reward D．responsibility
Historically, the term “fair trade” has meant many things. The Fair Trade League was 36 in Britain in 1881 to restrict 37 from foreign countries. In the United States, businesses and labor unions38 “fair trade” laws to construct构建what economistJoseph Stiglitzcalls “barriers to imports.” These so called “anti-dumping(反倾销)” laws allow a company that 39 a foreign one of selling a product below cost to request that the government charge收费special taxes to protect it from “unfair” 40 .
Such dark protectionist thoughts are far from the 41 of the organizers of the United Kingdom’s annual “Fairtrade Fortnight”. Their 42 aim is to raise the price paid to developing-country farmers for their43 by cutting out the inflated profits虚抬利润of the middlemen on whom they 44 for getting their goods to distant markets. Fair-trade products 45 cocoa, coffee, tea, and bananas do not compete with domestic European production, and 46 do not have a protectionist motive(动机).
This is how it works: In 47 for being paid a guaranteed price and meeting “agreed labor and environmental standards” (minimum wages, no farm chemicals ), poor-country farming cooperatives(合作社) receive a FAIRTRADE mark for their products, given 48 by the FAIRTRADE Labeling Organization. This mark49 supermarkets and other businesses to sell the products at a higher than 50 price . Third-world farmers get their income increased, 51 first-world consumers get to feel virtuous: a marriage made in heaven.
The fair-trade movement, 52 in the 1980’s, has been growing rapidly. In a significant breakthrough in 1997, the British House of Commons 53 to serve only fair-trade coffee. By the end of 2007, more than 600 producers’ organizations, 54 1.4 million farmers in 58 countries, were selling fair-trade products. Today, a quarter of all bananas in UK supermarkets are sold under a FAIRTRADE mark. But FAIRTRADE-labeled products still represent a very 55 share—typically less than 1%—of global sales of cocoa, tea, coffee, etc.
A．discovered B．founded C．encouraged D．promoted
A．imports B．exports C．output D．trade
A．disobey B．break C．use D．study
A．suspects B．needs C．wants D．advertises
A．agreement B．contract C．game D．competition
A．worries B．minds C．comments D．projects
A．educational B．political C．worthy高尚 D．immediate
A．favour B．benefit C．interest D．produce (n.农产品)
A．depend B．spend C．look D．apply
A．as B．like C．with D．for
A．instead B．otherwise C．therefore D．anyhow
A．fear B．store C．preparation D．exchange
A．secretly B．publicly C．officially D．successfully
A．urges B．enables C．orders D．forces
A．normal B．potential C．lowest D．best
A．when B．while C．as D．but
A．launched B．arranged C．invented D．developed
A．wanted B．refused C．had D．decided
A．telling B．representing C．Choosing D．receiving
A．small B．little C．good D．large
On a cold winter day, I waited in line to see my hero, Jack Canfield, the author of The Success Principles, who was going to deliver a speech on his new book.
During his talk, Jack 41 his wallet, pulled out a hundred-dollar bill, and said, ‘‘Who wants this?” 42 shot up in the audience; people leaned forward to see whom Jack would 43 . But I jumped up, ran up the 44 to the stage, and grabbed the bill. As I was launching myself in the air, 45 raced through my mind — was I about to be humiliated(羞辱) in front of 800 people? Would they 46 security guards and take me from the stage? 47 my desire for bold （大胆的）action was louder than any 48 voice. As I got the bill from his hand, he said, “That’s it! We can’t wait for the 49 to come to us. We must take 50 to create what we want!’’
After his talk, I 51 to formally meet Jack and boldly asked for his personal e-mail address. Over the next months, I sent him emails 52 my points of view and dreams with him. He kindly e-mailed back lots of encouragement. But my life got busy 53 other things. I stopped e-mailing Jack.
A year later, my dreams had worn away. I thought Jack would inspire me into action, like a giant arrow that would show me the way.
I e-mailed him, and then again — but got no 54 . As I sat down at my computer to 55 my e-mails, I 56 woke up. What was I doing? I was waiting! Now I remembered the crowd, most likely 57 that hundred-dollar bill, while they sat glued to their chairs.
Usually we all have a “Jack” for whom we wait — whether it’s a person, a place or a thing. We 58 believe the gifts of life are just around the corner, and that everything will come in a(n) 59 way. So we don’t try. We 60 . But as Wayne Gretzky said，“You’ll always miss 100% of the opportunities you don’t take!” So I stopped waiting and started my writing career.
Now what are you waiting for?
A．brought in B．reached for C．took over D．handed in
A．Cheers B．Shouts C．Heads D．Hands
A．offer B．trust C．like D．choose
A．path B．road C．steps D．route
A．thoughts B．opinions C．ideas D．plans
A．ask B．call C．demand D．order
A．And B．So C．But D．Or
A．noisy B．doubtful C．meaningful D．helpful
A．opportunities B．consequences C．results D．aims
A．step B．measure C．way D．action
A．expected B．tried C．permitted D．managed
A．stating B．describing C．presenting D．sharing
A．with B．in C．about D．over
A．news B．message C．response D．reaction
A．check B．examine C．inspect D．review
A．gradually B．suddenly C．immediately D．slowly
A．desiring B．claiming C．begging D．dreaming
A．particularly B．honestly C．falsely D．correctly
A．difficult B．impressive C．early D．natural
A．give up B．put up C．take up D．set up
When I walk through the streets of San Francisco’s business districts, white people stare at me as if I were a circus clown.
Their staring eyes don’t see that I get ____1____ A’s in school, or that I am a captain of the football team, or that I belong to ___2____youth organizations. All they see is that I am 6-foot-4, young ,black, and male-----a potential ____3____to them.
White men look at me as if I am up to no good, or as if they are ____4____to me. White women just look at me with____5____, say, sometimes they cross the street when they see my friends and me coming, or walk in the street and only get back on the sidewalk after we ____6____.
Many people come to San Francisco to get away from the stereotypes(成见) of the cities they were born and ____7_____ in. The majority of the blacks and Latinos who live in this city don’t have that luxury.
How can you feel at home when people are_____8_____telling you to get back to Africa or Mexico ----or just back to “where you belong”?
My way of dealing with this kind of thing has _____9_____over the years. In the past, when my friends and I would walk the streets and a hundred pairs of white eyes would look at me as if we were the lowest form of dirt, it would make us angry enough to hurt or ____10____them.
Now I’m more likely to use ____11____ to defend myself against those eyes. To women who clutch their purse in terror, I’ll say, “Man, I ain’t gonna do anything to you, I got money in my pocket!” My cousin has even started wearing a T-shirt ____12_____ in big letters, “NO, WHITE LADY, I DON'T’ WANT YOUR PURSE.”
The most painful thing is when we get those___13____ stares from black people, especially elderly ones. I want o say to them, “We’re black too. Why would we do something to you?”
Usually I react more ____14____to all of this than a lot of my friends do. Some of them, so brainwashed, just think it’s part of life and that there is nothing you can do.
But for me, that’s not good enough. I just can’t stand it when every day a hundred pair of eyes tell you you’re not_____15_____.
A．almost B．mostly C．merely D．particularly
A．social B．local C．positive D．new
A．danger B．treasure C．gift D．neighbor
A．better B．close C．perfect D．superior
A．fear B．interest C．honor D．despair
A．run B．walk C．pass D．move
A．known B．developed C．raised D．located
A．honestly B．constantly C．hopefully D．freely
A．changed B．formed C．strengthened D．increased
A．kill B．rob C．damage D．steal
A．actions B．deeds C．signs D．words
A．writing B．printing C．telling D．saying
A．fearful B．doubtful C．pitiful D．impressive
A．strongly B．actively C．disappointedly D．casually
A．sincere B．mature C．welcome D．gentle
The western world has always been divided into two types of people—the cool and the uncool. It is a 11 that starts in school. The cool kids are good at sports. They are popular with the opposite sex. They are good-looking and people want to 12 their style. They can do their homework but they don’t makea big effort. That would not be cool.
The 13 kids are in the other corner of the playground. They are very bright, but they don’t have great 14 skills, not popular with the opposite sex and they are 15 at sports. When they are not programming computers or doing calculus (微积分) , they are watching shows like the “X Files”. They are known as the geeks.
But the geeks are taking over. Make friends with them now or they will put virus in your computer and 16 your maths homework to ruin. Geeks might not be popular at school, yet they do pass their examinations. They 17 good degrees, though they might not be too popular at university.
The most important 18 of the 21st century, computers and IT, has been at least partly created by geeks. Geek heroes like Bill Gates 19 others to follow their examples. Being a geek is a way of earning good money. And the creation of the Internet gave them a 20 of their own to work and play in, making them a global force. 21 , the effect of the geeks on popular culture has started a new trend. It is now cool to be 22 . Geek culture is becoming an important part of general popular culture, in which what you 23 is more important than what you look like.
But there are also 24 . Geeks were often bullied (欺侮) or laughed at in school. Now a geek may be your 25 . Perhaps it is time for punishment.
A．time B．division C．group D．part
A．show B．act C．copy D．represent
A．uncool B．unimportant C．clever D．strange
A．personal B．attractive C．experimental D．social
A．tasteless B．careless C．hopeless D．helpless
A．introduce B．bring C．prefer D．add
A．score B．lack C．take D．save
A．discovery B．industry C．progress D．improvement
A．excite B．discourage C．demand D．promise
A．world B．challenge C．chance D．heaven
A．However B．Therefore C．Still D．Besides
A．imaginative B．uncool C．attractive D．cool
A．remember B．understand C．receive D．know
A．dangers B．questions C．possibilities D．wonders
A．secretary B．trainee C．friend D．boss
My friend Jenny from Germany spent some time traveling in India. She 36 the country so much that she always got attracted to it. While there, she stayed with Leela, her friend who was Indian. 37 the gazes that she got as a foreigner, Jenny always had language problems. It was very difficult for her to 38in this new environment and culture that had so many subtle (细微的) 39 from her own country.
One day, a 40 thing happened. Along with Leela, she went to visit an orphanage. All the children there were tiny; each one fell 41 between the ages of fifteen days to one-and-a-half years old.
After some initial(最初的) 42 , Jenny slowly went to the kids and sat beside them. After some time, one of the kids smiled at her. She felt 43a little, and she was immediately 44 towards that child.
She slowly held the child and started singing a rhyme in 45 . The small child continued to smile and started 46 after her. The words that escaped the little mouth were much different from those that Jenny hummed, but the 47 was the same.
Wanting to join in the 48 , another kid went up to Jenny and started humming the rhyme. They shared a million 49 together.
50 Leela's eyes on her, she blurted( 脱口而出) an explanation straight from her heart: “See, I don't have
51 problems here. We speak; we communicate!”
And she continued with her rhyme 52 she didn’t want to disturb the child’s smile.
That day, it was 53 for Leela and the others in the orphanage to see such a heartwarming scene. In that moment, she understood: we're all simply human, and we have the ability to 54 with each other; it's 55 , and comes from deep inside.
A．loved B．disliked C．understand D．missed
A．Rather than B．More than C．Apart from D．Instead of
A．contribute B．improve C．communicate D．entertain
A．similarities B．distances C．opportunities D．differences
A．terrible B．strange C．normal D．risky
A．anyway B．somewhat C．somewhere D．anyhow
A．doubt B．hesitation C．acknowledgment D．observation
A．stressed B．annoyed C．relaxed D．scary
A．persuaded B．expected C．asked D．drawn
A．German B．English C．India D．French
A．running B．playing C．repeating D．laughing
A．music B．tune C．pronunciation D．voice
A．performance B．race C．fun D．story
A．experiences B．sorrows C．songs D．smiles
A．Noticing B．Ignoring C．Examining D．Avoiding
A．health B．thought C．economy D．language
A．in case B．even though C．as if D．so that
A．embarrassing B．amazing C．disappointing D．puzzling
A．connect B．meet C．agree D．compare
A．tough B．meaningless C．difficult D．simple