Every school has an ugly girl. In my primary school, it was me.
From first grade through fourth, I had to wear heavy orthopedic(整形外科的)shoes because of my weak ankles. I sounded like overweight elephant wearing bricks whenever I took a single step.
“Hey, Bigfoot！”
“Geez, you're going to start an earthquake！”
Then in sixth grade I had to start wearing glasses. Mom asked for the least expensive ones and that made me look like a fool.
“Four eyes！”
“Couldn't you cover up more of your faces? Why stop at the eyes？”
In Seventh, I started competing on the city swim team, thinking that if I got a killer body, nobody would notice my face. Wrong again. I loved being fast and winning ribbons now and then, but now I had red, wet eyes from the chlorine(氯) in the pool. I also did not develop a killer body.
I changed my strategy at Eighth grade, the last year of middle school. I offered my help to anyone who needs. I worked for other girls, so they could hang out with their friends. My new program began to work. People who would never have acknowledged my existence before were suddenly seeking me out.
I'd been feeling pretty good until one day I went to Christine's house to help her fill envelopes. Going into each envelope was invitation to Christine's birthday party; it was a big event at a fancy hotel. Complete with dinner. She asked me to help her address these envelopes. There was no envelope for me.
My heart was broken. I tried to escape from all the eyes. High school had to be better, right? Yes and no. Now that I'm here, I know there are still lots of shallow people judging you on what you're wearing or how cool your hair is, but there are also kids who talk to you because they liked your answers or just as you're kind, honest, and a good friend.
I still do kind things because I like the feeling I get when I am helping people. I, with my friends, went to children's hospital, playing games and reading to the sick kids.
I still had wet red and not a smart look, but you cannot tell me I am not beautiful. Every time I visit hospital, fiveyearold Terry grasps my hand, “Morri, you are so nice. I want to grow up to be just like you.”Why was Morri laughed at by her classmates when she was in primary school?
| A．She had weak ankles and eyesight. |
| B．Her glasses couldn't cover up her face. |
| C．She couldn't get along well with them. |
| D．She looked like an overweight elephant. |
Which of the following is the real reason for Morri competing on the city swim team?
| A．To win more ribbons. |
| B．To shift others' attention from her face. |
| C．To develop a killer body. |
| D．To have red wet eyes. |
From what Morri experienced in the last year of middle school, we can learn that ________.
| A．her classmates thought highly of her |
| B．she was popular among her classmates |
| C．she was often cheated by her classmates |
| D．her classmates just took advantage of her |
The passage is intended to encourage people to ________.
| A．address as many as invitation envelopes as possible |
| B．take more sport activities including swimming |
| C．take others' comments into careful consideration |
| D．take positive attitude towards disadvantages in life |
B
One morning, Ann’s neighbor Tracy found a lost dog wandering around the local elementary school. She asked Ann if she could keep an eye on the dog. Ann said that she could watch it only for the day.
Tracy took photos of the dog and printed off 400 FOUND fliers（传单）, and put them in mailboxes. Meanwhile, Ann went to the dollar store and bought some pet supplies, warning her two sons not to fall in love with the dog. At the time, Ann’s son Thomas was 10 years old, and Jack, who was recovering from a heart operation, was 21 years old.
Four days later Ann was still looking after the dog, whom they had started to call Riley. When she arrived home from work, the dog threw itself against the screen door and barked madly at her. As soon as she opened the door, Riley dashed into the boys’ room where Ann found Jack suffering from a heart attack. Riley ran over to Jack, but as soon as Ann bent over to help him the dog went silent.
“If it hadn’t come to get me, the doctor said Jack would have died,” Ann reported to a local newspaper. At this point, no one had called to claim the dog, so Ann decided to keep it.
The next morning Tracy got a call. A man named Peter recognized his lost dog and called the number on the flier. Tracy started crying, and told him, “That dog saved my friend’s son.”
Peter drove to Ann’s house to pick up his dog, and saw Thomas and Jack crying in the window. After a few moments Peter said, “Maybe Odie was supposed to find you, maybe you should keep it.”What did Tracy do after finding the dog?
| A．She looked for its owner |
| B．She gave it to Ann as a gift. |
| C．She sold it to the dollar store. |
| D．She bought some food for it. |
How did the dog help save Jack?
| A．By breaking the door for Ann. |
| B．By leading Ann to Jack’s room. |
| C．By dragging Jack out of the room. |
| D．By attending Jack when Ann was out. |
What was Ann’s attitude to the dog according to Paragraph 4?
| A．Sympathetic | B．Doubtful |
| C．Tolerant | D．Grateful |
For what purpose did Peter call Tracy?
| A．To help her friend’s son. |
| B．To interview Tracy |
| C．To take back his dog. |
| D．To return the flier to her. |
What can we infer about the dog from the last paragraph?
| A．It would be given to Odie. |
| B．It would be kept by Ann’ family. |
| C．It would be returned to Peter. |
| D．It would be taken away by Tracy. |
A
Guide to Stockholm University Library
Our library offers different types of studying places and provides a good studying environment.
Zones
The library is divided into different zones. The upper floor is a quiet zone with over a thousand places for silent reading, and places where you can sit and work with your own computer. The reading places consist mostly of tables and chairs. The ground floor is the zone where you can talk. Here you can find sofas and armchairs for group work.
Computers
You can use your own computer to connect to the wi-fi specially prepared for notebook computers; you can also use library computers, which contain the most commonly used applications, such as Microsoft Office. They are situated in the area known as the Experimental Field on the ground floor.
Group-study Places
If you want to discuss freely without disturbing others, you can book a study room or sit at a table on the ground floor. Some study rooms are for 2-3 people and others can hold up to 6-8 people. All rooms are marked on the library maps.
There are 40 group-study rooms that must be booked via the website. To book, you need an active University account and a valid University card. You can use a room three hours per day, nine hours at most per week.
Storage of study material
The library has lockers for students to store course literature. When you have obtained at least 40 credits (学分), you may rent a locker and pay 400 SEK for a year’s rental period.
Rules to be followed
Mobile phone conversations are not permitted anywhere in the library. Keep your phone on silent as if you were in a lecture and exit the library if you need to receive calls.
Please note that food and fruit are forbidden in the library, but you are allowed to have drinks and sweets with you.The library’s upper floor is mainly for students to ______.
| A．read in a quiet place |
| B．have group discussions |
| C．take comfortable seats |
| D．get their computers fixed |
Library computers on the ground floor ______.
| A．help students with their field experiments |
| B．contain software essential for schoolwork |
| C．are for those who want to access the wi-fi |
| D．are mostly used for filling out application forms |
What condition should be met to book a group-study room?
| A．A group must consist of 8 people. |
| B．Three-hour use per day is the minimum. |
| C．One should first register at the university. |
| D．Applications must mark the room on the map. |
A student can rent a locker in the library if he ______.
| A．can afford the rental fee |
| B．attends certain courses |
| C．has nowhere to put his books. |
| D．has earned the required credits |
What should NOT be brought into the library?
| A．Mobile phones |
| B．Orange juice |
| C．Candy |
| D．Sandwiches |
阅读短文，按照题目要求用英语回答问题。
I’m Evan Ducker. I’m just like every other 15-year-old teenager, except that I was born with a red birthmark .Doctors don’t know the exact cause of birthmarks like mine---but they do know it occurs in about 3 of every 1,000 children all over the world.
Some birthmarks are marks of serious medical conditions. I’m very fortune--mine isn’t. I pretty much live a regular life, except for people asking me about it all the time, which can get me annoyed sometimes. But, overall, my birthmark is just a spot on my skin. It’s not harmful to other people.
When I was about 4 years old, I asked my mom why there weren’t any characters with birthmarks in the books she would read for me. When we went to the library, we realized there weren’t any for little kids. My mom knew I was disappointed. There weren’t any books with cool characters who had birthmarks.
So she said we could write our own. She took all my ideas and we created the first book of its kind to educate kids about birthmarks and also offer a more realistic, positive character with a birthmark. I based the story on all real things that happened in my life. But instead of people, the characters in the book are real animals from the Galapagos Islands, including a red-footed bird. When people ask why I picked a red-footed bird as the main character, I tell them that the bird has red feet, similar to a human birthmark! He is pretty cool.
It was really tough to get my book published. It took a long time because a lot of publishers refused it. They would tell my family there wasn’t a market big enough for a book about birthmarks. But we knew the book wasn’t about birthmarks. It was about tolerance for people’s differences in general. We just picked a character with a birthmark because that was what I knew.Why did Evan say he was very fortunate? ( no more than 12 words)
_____________________________________________________________________Why did Evan want to write a book with characters who had birthmarks? (no more than 15 words)
______________________________________________________________________What does the underlined word “tough” mean? ( no more than 3 words)
______________________________________________________________________What did Evan think of the main character in his book? ( no more than 5 words)
_____________________________________________________________________In your opinion, how would you treat a friend with a birthmark?
( no more than 20 words)
_____________________________________________________________________
D
Metro Pocket Guide
Metrorail (地铁)
Each passenger needs a farecard to enter and go out .Up to two children under age five may travel free with a paying customer .
Farecard machines are in every station .Bring small bills because there are no change machines in the stations and farecard machines only provide up to $5 in change.
Get one ticket of unlimited Metrorall rides with a One Day Pass .Buy it from a farecard machine in Metro stations .Use it after 9:30 a,m. until closing on weekdays , and all day on weekends and holidays .
Hours of service
Open 5am Mon-Fri 7a.m Sat-Sun
Close midnight Sun-Thurs. 3a.m. Sat-Sun
Last train times vary .To avoid missing the last train , please check the last train time posted in the station.
Train times Posted in stations
Metrobus
When paying with exact charge , the fare is $1.35.When paying with a SmatTripⓇcard , the fare is 1.25.
Fares for the senior/ disabled customers
Senior citizens 65 and older and disabled customers may ride for half the regular fare .On Metrorail and Metrobus , use a senior/disabled farecard or Smar/Trip Ⓡcard .For more information about buying senior .disabled farecards , farecard or SmarTripⓇcards and passes , please visit MetroOpensDoors .com or call 202-637-7000and 202-637-8000.
Senior citizens and disabled customers can get free guide on how to use proper Metrobus and Metrorall services by calling 202-962-1100.
Travel tips (提示)
. Avoid riding during weekday rush periods –before 9:30 a.m. and between 4and 6p.m.
. If you lose something on a bus or train or in a station, please call Lost &Found at 202-962-1195,What should you know about farecard machines?
| A．They start selling tickets at 9:30 a.m. |
| B．They are connected to change machines . |
| C．They offer special service to the elderly . |
| D．They make change for no more than $5. |
At what time does Metroarll stop service on Saturday ?
| A．At midnight . |
| B．At 3 a.m. |
| C．At 5 a.m. |
| D．At 7a.m. |
What is good about a SmarTripⓇcard ?
A. It is convenient for old people .
B. It saves money for its users
C It can be bought at any train
D. It is sold on the InternetWhich number should you call if you lose something on the Metro?
| A．202-962-1195 |
| B．202-962-1100 |
| C．202-637-7000 |
| D．202-637-8000 |
C
Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.
In Brazil
Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can stretch for hours—there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil. Lunches also can start in the mid to late afternoon. Brazilians are social, preferring face-to-face communication over mails or phone calls.
In Singapore
Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Business cards should be offered and received with two hands. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency(效率) is the goal, so meetings and dealings often are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. This determines both people interact in meetings. For example, people avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.
In the United Arab Emirates
In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. Women should cover themselves when it comes to dress. Men also tend to be covered from neck to elbows(肘部) and down to the knees. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided. When meetings are one-to-one, if your host offers you coffee, you should refuse. It might seem odd, but it is a cultural tradition. Coffee should only be accepted if it is always set out or presented.
In Switzerland
The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守时) is vital, something that comes from a deep respect for others’ time. Arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. They also have clear structure in their companies. Higher-ups make the final decisions, even if others might disagree. Neat, clean dress is expected. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.The passage is mainly about ________.
| A．communication types |
| B．the workplace atmosphere |
| C．customs and social manners |
| D．living conditions and standards |
Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?
| A．They put efficiency in the first place. |
| B．They dislike face-to-face communication. |
| C．They want to finish meetings as quickly as possible. |
| D．They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank. |
In the UAE, when should you refuse the coffee if it is offered?
| A．When greeting seniors. |
| B．When meeting the host alone. |
| C．When attending a presentation. |
| D．When dining with business partners. |
In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?
| A．In Brazil. |
| B．In Singapore. |
| C．In the United Arab Emirate. |
| D．In Switzerland. |