There was a sweet smell of incense (香) in the air as the wellmuscled man moved his legs into a position well behind his head.It was something that the human body really should not be able to do.But what else would you expect at the First World Yoga Championships?
On September 25，the world’s leading yoga experts arrived in the US to find out who was the best.But the real prize was to turn yoga into a proper Olympic event.
“Yoga is a combination of bodybuilding，Miss World，Mr Universe and gymnastics，” said championship organizer Bikram Choudhury.“There are some 70 people from more than 20 countries competing in this event.Why not have yoga at the Olympics？”
The public cannot decide whether or not Choudhury’s dream will come true.But he is right about one thing：yoga has become popular with young and old people all over the world.In the US alone,15 million people practise yoga.Everyone is at it，including Madonna and Ricky Martin.
Yoga started in India more than 5,000 years ago.The name means “to join together”．That is to bring the body and mind together into one pleasing experience.The whole system of yoga is built on three things：exercise，breathing and meditation (沉思)．
The yoga that we know today is mostly physical yoga.It’s seen as a type of exercise，but is different from sports like football or running.When we do yoga，we move our body into positions that stretch the muscles and joints，making them stronger.
One of the best things about yoga is the fact that everyone can do it.To women，it means a flat stomach，more shapely legs and a graceful body.To men，it is a way of becoming stronger and more athletic.
There are also speciallydesigned yoga classes for pregnant women or children suffering from mental disabilities，such as autism (孤独症)．As for teenagers，meditation and simple breathing exercises can help them learn to calm down，relax and concentrate better.But teenagers under 16 are not supposed to do the body exercises as it could have a bad effect on their natural growth.What does the first paragraph mainly tell us?
| A．Something sportsmen should not do in practising yoga. |
| B．Basic skills that are required in performing yoga. |
| C．The performance of the sportsmen at the First World Yoga Championships. |
| D．The unique setting where yoga is performed. |
What is Choudhury’s dream in the passage?
A．Turning yoga into a proper Olympic event.
B．Making all Americans practise yoga.
C Winning the First World Yoga Championships.
D．Getting the public support for promoting yoga.Why does the author mention Madonna and Ricky Martin in the fourth paragraph?
| A．To compare the differences between the young and the old. |
| B．To describe the extensive popularity of yoga in the US. |
| C．To emphasize the importance of practising yoga. |
| D．To explain the strong influence of public figures in the US. |
Which statement is NOT true about yoga?
| A．It is a type of exercise which benefits the body and mind. |
| B．It makes muscles and joints stronger by stretching. |
| C．It contains exercise，breathing and meditation. |
| D．It is similar to the sports like football or running. |
According to the passage，who does not need to pay special attention in practising yoga?
| A．Women to be mothers. | B．Teenagers under 16. |
| C．Adult men. | D．Children with autism. |
People have been burying the dead at Salem’s Hope Cemetery since 1833. The place is filled with old gravestones and gothic mausoleums(哥特式陵墓), the spirits of the dead hanging over the land like an early morning fog.
Keeping watch, a few steps from the road with her skirt over the pedestal (基座), is Goldie Belle Taylor, her face weathered but otherwise in good condition. On this day, she is holding a bunch of pink rises because Goldie Belle always holds flowers. Someone makes sure of that.
“And she has had fresh flowers in her hands for the last 150 years.” Karen Biery lives in Damascus, about five miles west of Hope Cemetery. She’s written a book based on the legend of Goldie Belle Taylor titled Believe. In 1886, at the age of two, young Goldie Belle used her hands to sop up (抹去) the left over elderberry juice from her father’s iron kettle. She died not long after from poisoning. She was the love of her dad’s life, and he was so upset that he sold the family farm to buy the Italian made statue, which today marks her grave.
At first, it was her father who brought the flowers and laid them in her hands. When he died in 1896, the flowers kept coming. Her flowers are different per season. Why do the flowers keep miraculously appearing? People have tried to find out by having camped by the statue, but not even the groundskeepers have been able to catch the criminal.
It’s said that a fairy arrives at Hope Cemetery looking for the grave of her birth mother. She comes across Goldie Belle’s statue.The underlined word “that” in paragraph 2 probably refers to________.
| A．her face in good condition |
| B．her bunch of pink roses |
| C．Goldie Belle Taylor is holding pink roses |
| D．Goldie Belle Taylor always holds flowers |
It can be inferred from the third paragraph __________.
| A．her father was poisonous | B．the iron kettle was poisonous |
| C．elderberry juice was poisonous | D．it was her father that hated her |
After her father died, the flowers in the hands of Goldie Belle Taylor_______.
| A．usually change | B．were stolen |
| C．are no longer fresh | D．come from a criminal |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．A fairy brings the flowers. | B．The mystery of Goldie’s flowers. |
| C．What happens to the girl? | D．How do the flowers get there? |
TS said that everyone has a changing circle of friends. However, no matter how frequently we renew our phone books, some names always remain. These names remind us of the good times we spent together with our friends. Though we may not see them every day, they will always stay in our hearts.
Tom was often called "Big Head" at school because of his extraordinarily large head. He was one of my close friends at primary school. But since graduation, we have been studying in different cities and haven't seen each other for a long time.
Several days ago, I received an e-mail saying that my former classmates from primary school were holding a party to get together and chat about past memories. I was so excited because [ would get to see Tom again. What would he look like now? Would we still feel as close to each other as we had done back then? I was a little frightened about what I would find.
When I arrived at the party, I did manage to recognize Tom. However, he was much taller than he had been before. What's more, his head was no longer big.
"Hi, Buddy. Do you recognize me?" Tom walked towards me.
"Of course. How could I ever forget our ' Big Head' ," I said jokingly, "But where has your big head gone?"
"Haha, maybe it didn't keep up with the steps of time and stayed in the past," Tom patted his own head and answered with a laugh.
All my misgivings suddenly disappeared. I realized that time had changed us outwardly, but our friendship hadn't changed at all. I chatted happily with Tom about our shared experiences in primary school.
Then I looked around the small room and saw different faces, both familiar and unfamiliar, but none of them the faces of strangers. The whole party was filled with a warm atmosphere. Everyone was lost in the sweet memories of childhood. They forgot all their present-day stresses and pressures.
"Hey, what are you thinking about? Come and get some pizza!" A call from a friend woke me up from my thoughts. I hurried towards the table. "Wait! That biggest piece is mine!"Why are some names always in our phone books?
| A．Because everyone has a changing circle of friends. |
| B．Because we sometimes forget to renew phone books. |
| C．Because we'll never forget some of our friends. |
| D．Because our circle of friends will not change. |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Tom has changed a lot since primary school. |
| B．Tom invited the author to the get-together party by email. |
| C．The author recognized Tom immediately because of his big head. |
| D．Tom couldn't recognize the author at the first sight. |
What does the underlined word "misgiving" mean (in para. 8 )?
| A．expectation and excitement | B．worries and doubts |
| C．stresses and pressures | D．shyness and nervousness |
The author writes the last paragraph to show
| A．others can't understand what the author is thinking about |
| B．The pizzas are not adequate for everyone in the party |
| C．the author wants to have a big pizza very much |
| D．the author enjoys the warm atmosphere of the party greatly |
Which of the following proverbs can be used to conclude this passage.'?
| A．A friend in need is a friend indeed. | B．Time reveals a person's heart. |
| C．Friends are like wine; the older, the better. | D．A faithful friend is hard to find. |
Nothing succeeds like confidence. When you are truly confident, it radiates from you like sunlight, and attracts success to you like a magnet. Besides, those who are self-confident can in turn inspire confidence in others: their audience, their peers, their bosses, their customers, and their friends. And gaining the confidence of others is one of the key ways in which a self-confident person finds success.
So how can we build a sense of self-confidence and prepare ourselves on the way to success?
First, do what you believe to be right, even if others mock or criticize you for it. Believe in yourself and believe that you can do it under any circumstances, because if you believe you can, then you really will. The belief keeps you searching for answers, which means that pretty soon you will get them.
Second, govern your behavior based on what other people think. What's more important, be willing to take risks and go the extra miles to achieve better results, in which case mistakes can not be avoided. Don't hesitate to admit your mistakes, and learn from them. Next, work hard to settle the problems in order to cover up your mistakes before anyone notices. Building self-confidence is readily achievable, as long as you have the focus and determination to carry things through. And what's even better is that the things you'll do to build self-confidence will also build success -- after all, your confidence will come from real, solid achievement. No one can take this away from you!
As you sow, so shall you reap. With your perseverance and improvement, you are getting closer to success. At this stage, wait for others to congratulate you on your accomplishments and compliments graciously. "Thanks, I really worked hard on that prospectus. I'm pleased you recognize my efforts. " The congratulations and compliments from others will promote you to gain further success.
Self-confidence is extremely important in almost every, aspect of our lives, and it is no wonder that so many people struggle to find it. Self-confidence really can be learned and built on. Besides, whether you're working on your own self-confidence or building the confidence of people around you, it's well-worth the effort!Those who are truly confident
| A．succeed without effort and hard work |
| B．encourage people around to become confident |
| C．appear more attractive and thus become successful |
| D．gain the confidence of others and feel successful |
The underlined word "mock" (Para. 2) is closest in meaning to
| A．praise | B．imitate | C．talk to | D．laugh at |
When others congratulate us on our achievements, we are supposed to
| A．praise them in return | B．gain further improvement |
| C．politely accept the compliments | D．expect them to congratulate you again |
Which of the following proverbs best goes with Paragraph 4.9
| A．Look before your leap. |
| B．It is no use crying over spilt milk. |
| C．Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. |
| D．Learn from past mistakes and avoid future ones. |
The purpose of the text is to
| A．tell people how to become successful |
| B．convince people to do what they believe to be right |
| C．encourage people to build confidence and achieve success |
| D．criticize people who lack confidence and thus fail in their career |
Over the years I've been teaching children about a simple but powerful concept -- the ant philosophy (哲学).I think everybody should study ants.
They have an amazing four-part philosophy, and here is the first part: ants never quit. That's a good philosophy. If they're headed somewhere and you try to stop them; they'll look for another way.
They'll climb over, they'll climb under, and they'll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy, to never quit looking for a way to get where you're supposed to go.
Second, ants think winter all summer. That's an important viewpoint. You can't be so naive ( 天真的) as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering in their winter food in the middle of summer.
An ancient story says, "Don't build your house on the sand in the summer. " Why do we need that advice.'? Because it is important to be realistic. In the summer, you've got to think storm. You've got to think rocks as you enjoy the sand and sun. Think ahead.
The third part of the ant philosophy is that ants think summer all winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, "This won't last long ; we'll soon be out of here. " And on the first warm day, the ants are out. If it turns cold again, they'll dive back down, but then they come out on the first warm day. They can't wait to get out.
And here's the last part of the ant-philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the "all-you-possibly-can" philosophy.
Wow, what a great seminar to attend -- the ant seminar. Never give up, look ahead, stay positive and do all you can.If you try to stop ants going forward, they will
| A．climb over your head | B．quit looking for a way |
| C．search for another way | D．keep climbing around |
What is the second philosophy of ants?
| A．Think winter all summer. | B．Always be realistic. |
| C．Never become lazy in summer. | D．Always look ahead. |
Which of the following can best describe the third part of the ant philosophy?
| A．Always stay positive. | B．Always remind yourself. |
| C．Always think summer. | D．Always be hardworking. |
We can learn from the last part of the ant philosophy that we should
| A．never stop gathering food in the summer | B．always get prepared for the winter |
| C．gather as much as possible for the future | D．do whatever we can for the future |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．The Concept of Ants | B．The Ant Philosophy |
| C．Never Give up | D．Do All You Can |
I was painfully shy as a child. In high school I would avoid participating in class discussions. I was too afraid to talk to anyone but my closest friends~ I would think about being less shy, wanting the courage not only to ask a girl out, but to speak up in class and say what I was thinking. Yet, it never happened. Fears showed themselves in such self-conscious questions as, " What will other people think? What if she says no?" I felt a dark presence in my mind holding me back.
This shyness continued into college. One day, the question occurred to me: Is life shy?
The thought surprised me ! Think of the leaves bursting out in the spring time, the bird singing at dawn, the sheer number of different forms of life, all expressing the wideness and scope of divine life. There's nothing shy about it. Life is everywhere and attention-grabbing (引人注意的). So, if my creator isn't shy about all the life that needs expressing, I don't need to be either.
I realized that if I wanted to overcome fear and shyness, I would have to put this law of life into practice~ Shyness, fear, and loneliness were hindering me from living my life as life: God wanted me to live it. Therefore, I decided to live how life saw me.
One example: I wrote a note to a girl, asking her out on a date. Even as I was writing it, the fears of disaffirmation and unworthiness came to me. This time however, instead of shrinking back and hiding from the fear, I put the note in the campus mail in spite of myself. I thought: whether she says yes or no, it's still right for me not to be shy. I can live with the confidence sent from the source of my life. The girl saw me in class the next day and told me that she would love to go out with me. I should not have been so surprised!
Bit by bit, I was proving that the limited view of myself no longer had control over me. After college, I worked as a newspaper reporter, earned an advanced degree in theater, became a productive writer (a lifelong dream), met a special woman whom I married, and even got a job teaching at a university.The writer was shy as a child because of______.
| A．awareness that life is shy |
| B．lack of courage to speak out in public |
| C．fear of others' attitude and reaction |
| D．failure in his participation in class discussion |
"The law" in Paragraph 4 refers to the fact that______.
| A．life is attention-grabbing and divine |
| B．God treats everything and everyone fairly |
| C．everything in nature is in the favour of God |
| D．the creator of life which needs expressing isn't shy |
It can be learnt from Paragraph 5 that the writer______.
| A．didn't hesitate before sending the note |
| B．wouldn't regret sending the note despite the result |
| C．was not surprised when the girl agreed to go out |
| D．believed in God and felt encouraged by the wideness of life |
The underlined word "disaffirmation" in Paragraph 5 probably means______.
| A．rejection | B．laughter | C．regret | D．horror |
The purpose of writing the text is to______.
| A．blame those who are shy and unconfident |
| B．persuade people to have confidence in their career |
| C．share the personal experience with the readers |
| D．prove that the overcome of shyness helps achieve success |