Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But a long time ago, it wasn’t easy at all. Before 1750, the idea of skating didn’t exist (存在). That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin’s work was making musical instruments. In his spare time he liked to play the violin. Joseph Merlin was a man of ideas and dreams. People called him a dreamer.
One day Merlin received an invitation to attend a fancy dress ball (化装舞会). He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand (壮丽的) entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room.
Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of arriving at the party on wheels while playing the violin.
On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was greatly surprised to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on. Suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking to pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin’s grand entrance for a long time!The text is mainly about __________.
| A．a strange man |
| B．an unusual party |
| C．how roller skating began |
| D．how people enjoyed themselves in the 18th century |
People thought Merlin was a dreamer because he __________.
| A．was full of imagination |
| B．was a gifted (有才华的) musician |
| C．invented the roller skates |
| D．often gave others surprises |
Merlin put wheels under his shoes in order to __________.
| A．show his skill in walking on wheels |
| B．arrive at the party sooner |
| C．test his invention |
| D．impress the party guests |
What is the main point the writer is trying to make in the last paragraph (自然段)?
| A．The roller skates needed further improvement. |
| B．The party guests took Merlin for a fool. |
| C．Merlin succeeded beyond (超出) expectation. |
| D．Merlin got himself into trouble. |
When was the last time you did something really fun with one of your parents—just the two of you?
Parents who take their young children to music, swimming and art classes often stop arranging such activities once their kids are older and in school all day. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Doing something enjoyable with your kids just might make you look at each other in a whole new way, especially if you do it through a class or an event. When parent and child become students together, it puts them on the same level, at least for a while.
“I really like parents to come to class with their kids—they start sharing things and talking about what they’re doing and what they like,” said art teacher Pyper Dixon.
However, finding something new in common is a big choice for them, especially when kids get involved in sports and other after-school activities. But it’s possible to learn a new skill or hobby together.
That’s certainly true of Lauren, 11, of Silver Spring, who is in Dixon’s class with her father, Dennis. “I was just going to drop her off,” Dennis said, “but Dixon persuaded me to stay.”
Now Lauren gets to nag her father about doing his art homework. “He always leaves it to the last minute,” she said. “But then he’ll turn around to do amazing drawings,” she added, “We have different styles of drawing, so it’s interesting to talk it over with him.”
Without the Saturday morning art class, Dennis said, he would be reading the paper, and Lauren would be on her own in her room or on the computer. But they talk more now. “I can’t think of an experience where you communicate with your kid so closely,” he said. The author raises the question at the beginning to_______.
| A．expect an answer |
| B．criticize some parents |
| C．introduce the topic |
| D．support his argument |
What does Dixon think is the benefit of parent and child studying art together?
| A．They will become equal. |
| B．They will communicate more. |
| C．The child will learn art much better. |
| D．The parent will learn something new. |
The underlined word “nag” in the text probably means _______.
| A．urge |
B．help |
C．miss |
D．teach |
We can learn from the text that_______.
| A．Lauren used to talk a lot with her father |
| B．Dennis enjoys studying art with Lauren |
| C．Lauren dislikes her father’s drawings |
| D．Dennis likes playing computer games |
During my high school years, the most important thing was what I was wearing to the Friday night dance and who I was taking. Although college was talked about, it was the least of my worries.
When I was graduating eighth grade and starting high school, my older brother was graduating twelfth grade and going onto college. For my graduation, he gave me a card in which he wrote, “Enjoy your four years…, they go by fast.” I remember not believe him then, but looking back…, he was right. Those four years shaped who I was as a person, pushed me to my limit and encouraged me to become an adult.
However, I was so completely absorbed in my junior and senior years of high school, that when someone spoke of college I brushed it off. I wasn't ready to leave my comfort zone of having all of my closest friends together and knowing what every single day was going to be like . Studying was something I did only AFTER I nailed my half-time dance performance. I knew my parents wanted me to go to college, so I told them I would go to commuity college (社区学院)and I didn’t worry about my SAT（美国大学入学考试）scores.
When my senior year passed and everyone graduated and went off to their own college ,I started to wish I had done the same. My friends were living away, meeting new people, discovering new places, and I was living at home and driving to and from class every day. It seemed exactly like high school. I hated it! I thought college was supposed to be different! Why didn’t I take more time to research colleges and do the same? I ended up loving college and wishing I had four years to enjoy the campus(大学校园)atmosphere instead of two.
My advice to anyone thinking about attending college is to think about it very seriously and look into all of your choices well ahead of time. Now I have graduate and I am working full time and I would do anything to go back to my high school days for a second chance! Why didn’t the author worry about his SAT scores?
| A．He wanted to go to community college. |
| B．He had a gift for dance. |
| C．He was well prepared for the exam. |
| D．He believed his brother would help him. |
When in high school, the author.
| A．drove to and from class every day |
| B．buried himself in his study all the time |
| C．enjoyed talking about future college life |
| D．lived in the school except on holidays |
What did the author’s brother mean by “Enjoy your four years…, they go by fast.”?
| A．He wished the author to have more dance. |
| B．He advised the author to value the years. |
| C．He encouraged the author to leave his comfort zone. |
| D．He suggested the author aim at a community college. |
Talking of his high school years, the author feels.
| A．regretful |
B．lonely |
C．angry |
D．pleased |
The host: Now it's time for our You Must Read This program. Today we'll hear from Lauren Groff. She came across a book when she was going to have her first child and was worried about the future.
Lauren Groff: Staring into darkness, I wanted to read about happiness.1n fact, books full of joy are hard to find because happiness is nearly impossible to write about. So, when I found Elizabeth and Her German Garden, by Elizabeth Von Arnim, I felt as if someone suddenly opened a curtain and revealed a window where I had thought there was a wall.
Elizabeth and Her German Garden feels as if it rose out of Von Arnim's deep unhappiness in the way she was supposed to fit into her world Still, what a cool drink this novel is. It has a few characters: the narrator, a countess (女伯爵) named Elizabeth, her husband, her three tiny daughters, various servants and some visitors. There is also Elizabeth's garden. whick we see in all its seasonal richness.
That is only the book's surface, however. There are great things hidden in the book. Eliza- beth is always comparing herself and the women around her and finding their fixed social roles disappointing. Her happiness, when it comes, arrives as an act of will. She has fought hard to achieve delight and I think it is more valuable for her struggle.
I appreciate Elizabeth for showing me a way through my darkest time, by revealing that an act of focused attention can lift a person out of a long, dark period in their lives. Anyone can get a little happiness from living, even by reading a few pages of a book.
The host : That's Lauren Groff. Her latest novel is Arcadia. The book she recommended(推荐) is Elizabeth and Her German Garden.What can we learn from the second paragraph?
| A． Lauren Groff likes reading about happiness at night. |
| B．Elizabeth Von Arnim wrote Elizabeth and Her German Garden. |
| C．There are a few books about joy that Lauren Groff likes reading. |
| D．Someone opened a curtain when Lauren Groff found her favorite book. |
The underlined word "it" in the fourth paragraph probably refers to_______.
| A． Lauren's delight | B． Lauren's struggle |
| C． Elizabeth's struggle | D． Elizabeth's happiness |
Lauren Groff likes Elizabeth and Her German Garden because it________.
| A． is full of joy and laughter | B． shows a way to happiness |
| C．is a perfect way to kill time | D．describes a beautiful garden |
What can we learn about Arcadia?
| A．It is the next novel to be recommended. |
| B．It is a novel written by Lauren Groff. |
| C．It is Elizabeth Von Arnim's latest novel. |
| D．It is recommended in the last program. |
Where can we find this conversation?
| A．In an interview about gardening. |
| B．In a report about how to be happy. |
| C．In a radio program about books. |
| D．In a documentary about famous writers. |
By the age of almost four, Elijah Edney has never had a haircut in his life. But now he can ' t wait to visit the barber's - for two reasons: losing his two - foot - long golden hair will mean that strangers stop mistaking him for a girl; the hair will be donated to charity to provide a wig (假发) for a child with cancer.
Mrs. Edney, who works in a restaurant, says, "Elijah has always had beautiful hair, so I let him grow it as he w8nted. It' s like silk. But now it is at a stage where people mistake him for a girl and he wants it cut into a boy's haircut. "
Mrs. Edney and her husband want to collect enough money-£350-to process Elijah's hair for a sick child. She says, "I couldn't bear to see all Elijah's beautiful hair go to waste and my mum mentioned charities that have human hair made into wigs. "
Mrs. Edney says, "If we can raise the amount we want, it will mean a family will not have to pay for the wig and can receive it for free. When you've got children yourself, you hope that if they lost their hair someone would do the same for them by donating their hair. "
The two-foot-long hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust (小公主信托基金) to make a wig for children suffering cancer. Elijah keeps telling people he is giving his hair to poor princesses and he is so excited about it.
A spokesman for the Little Princess Trust says, "We're very grateful to anyone who decides to have their hair cut to donate it to the Little Princess Trust. As a result of hair donations like this, the charity receives real-hair wigs for free to pass on to families whose children have sadly lost their own hair through cancer treatment. "Why has Mrs. Edney let Elijah's hair grow so long?
| A．Because Elijah has beautiful hair. |
| B．Because she likes long hair. |
| C．Because Elijah looks nice with long hair. |
| D．Because she wants to donate his hair to charity. |
Who first thought of charities that use human hair?
| A． Elijah's father. | B． Elijah's mother. |
| C． Elijah himself. | D． Elijah's grandmother. |
Elijah's parents try to raise money to _________.
| A．pay the barber for his work |
| B．process his hair into a wig |
| C．give the Little Princess Trust along with a wig |
| D．give a child who lost his hair through cancer treatment |
What does Elijah think of his hair being given to a charity?
| A．He doesn't care about it. | B．He wants to keep it a secret. |
| C．He is excited about it. | D．He feels sad for poor children. |
According to the last paragraph, the Little Princess Trust________.
| A．encourages people to cut their hair to donate it |
| B．welcomes and gives thanks for such donations |
| C．gives free wigs to children who have lost their hair |
| D．provides treatment for children with cancer |
The entire house was lit with lights. It was Meera's wedding the next day. Seema walked to her daughter's bedroom. Meera was not there, so she left the envelope on Meera's bed and went away. When Meera came out of the bathroom, her eyes fell on the envelope. She picked it up and opened it. Sitting on the bed, she started to read it:
My darling daughter, I am so happy for you. My darling is getting married! To such a good man! At the same time, I am a little worried, too. The reason? You are going to a new house where everything is going to be new: the people, relationships and surroundings. Yes, you are smart and Vinod will be there with you to help, but I have a few things to say:
Accept Vinod's parents as your parents. Remember that your mother-in-law will have her own understanding about you. So it is up to you to give her a good impression.
Earn respect from family members. If that means changing yourself a little bit and adapting to their customs, just do it. It will help you to settle into your new home.
Never compare your mother's home and their home. It may not be appreciated.
The kitchen is one place where small fights can appear. It is your mother-in-law's king- dom, so ask her permission if you want to cook something. If she offers help, accept it. This will help in building trust between you. Similarly, offer her your help when she is busy cooking. Thus, a new relationship will be born: one of respect and understanding.
Finally, respect your husband, as he is your life partner. Remember that a marriage requires trust, love and compromise (妥协).
I could have sat with you and told you, but I felt that writing all this down would make you understand better and I am sure you will give your whole heart to this relationship. Remember that both Papa and I are here for you always.
Love, MaWhere was Meera when her mother went to her bedroom?
| A．In the kitchen. | B． In Vinod's house. | C． In the bedroom. | D． In the bathroom. |
What was Seema's attitude towards Vinod?
| A．Satisfied. | B．Cautious. | C．Doubtful. | D．Worried. |
According to the mother, the daughter should NOT_____ in the new family.
| A． earn respect from family members |
| B． accept Vinod's parents as her parents |
| C． compare her mother's home and their home |
| D．ask permission if she wants to cook something |
What will help if Meera wants to build trust with her mother-in-law, according to the mother?
| A．Living with her. |
| B． Cooking meals instead of her. |
| C．Making compromises with her. |
| D．Accepting her help in the kitchen. |
The mother wrote the letter mainly to teach her daughter ______.
| A．how to respect her husband |
| B．how to trust her mother-in-law |
| C．how to adapt to her married life |
| D．how to better understand her parents |