Isabella Stewart was born in New York City in 1840. Her father made a great deal of money in trade. During school，her parents took her to Italy to explore the country's many cultural treasures.
One of the private art collections Isabella visited in Milan had a deep influence on her. She wrote to her friends about her dream of owning a house one day with an art collection like the one she had seen in Italy.
In Paris, Isabella became a close friend of one of her classmates, Julia Gardner, whose family was from Boston. Julia would later introduce Isabella to her brother, Jack. In 1860, Isabella Stewart married Jack Gardner.
The couple had too much art to fit inside their home. So they decided to start planning a museum. Mrs. Gardner didn't like the cold and empty spaces of many museums during her time. She wanted a warm museum filled with light. She once said that she decided years ago that the greatest need in her country was art. America was a young country developing quickly in other areas. But the country needed more chances for people to see beautiful examples of art.
After her husband's death in 1898, Isabella knew she had no time to lose in building her museum. She bought land, hired a building designer, and supervised (监督)every detail of her museum's construction.
Mrs. Gardner opened her museum on January 1,1903. The museum was then called Fenway Court. She invited her friends that night for a special musical performance. The next month, she opened the museum to the public. At first, visits were limited to twenty days out of the year. Visitors paid one dollar to enter.
Isabella Stewart Gardner died in 1924 in Boston. In her will, she left the museum a million dollars and a series of requirements about how it should be managed. One requirement is that the permanent collection cannot be changed. The text is mainly about __________.
| A．how Isabella Gardner realized her dream of being an artist |
| B．how Mr. and Mrs. Gardner added to their collection of art |
| C．how Isabella's museum was opened |
| D．Isabella Stewart Gardner and her museum |
By saying“the greatest need in her country was art” in Paragraph 4 Mrs. Gardner meant that __________.
| A．America was still a young developing country |
| B．there were no museums in America at that time |
| C．art fell far behind other fields of the American society |
| D．Americans had no chance to enjoy beautiful art |
In order to achieve her dream of owning an art museum, Mrs. Gardner __________.
| A．raised money from her friends and relatives |
| B．sold out all her land and houses |
| C．held special musical performances for money |
| D．watched over the process of building the museum |
Which statement is NOT true according to the text?
| A．Isabella and Jack were classmates when studying in Paris. |
| B．The museums at that time were not comfortable. |
| C．Isabella opened the museum about five years after Jack's death. |
| D．Great as the museum was，visitors had to wait and pay to enter. |
From the passage, we can learn that the museum __________.
| A．helps earn much money for its collections of art |
| B．is called Fenway Court by the visitors |
| C．was opened to the public on January 1st, 1903 |
| D．is still affected by Isabella Gardner in management now |
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."
You probably heard those lines in grammar school, but do you really agree that harsh (严厉的) or negative words do not harm us? Words have power. Surely we all have had our feelings hurt by something someone said.
We may not say words to hurt others, but the way we interpret (解释) them and how we say them may cause great harm. Here’s an example:
An ancient king dreamed all his teeth had fallen out. He sent for a wise man to explain his dream to him: the dream means that all your relatives will die and you will be left alone!
The king was very angry and threw the interpreter into prison. He then sent for another interpreter who said, "Congratulations! King! You will live many more years. In fact, you will survive all your relatives. Long Live the King!"
Both interpreters gave the same interpretation, but there was a huge difference in the way they said it.
Our speech must be understood by those who hear our words, but the way we say things and the intention behind them have as much power as the words themselves. Words can cause anger or appreciation. Which would you rather receive?
People who say harsh and negative things may not mean to harm, but have you ever known anyone who is a naysayer? They often look at the dark sides of things. They always see the glass as half empty rather than half full. How do you feel when you are around this type of person? Remember: words have power. Use them wisely.The author mentions the story of the ancient king to show that _____.
| A．one dream sometimes has different explanations |
| B．good words can bring good luck to people |
| C．people should be careful when talking to a king |
| D．different ways of saying things have different effects |
The underlined word "naysayer" in the last paragraph refers to a person who always _____.
| A．has a negative attitude |
| B．likes to be praised |
| C．talks big |
| D．likes to repeat what others say |
According to the text, how can people understand each other better?
| A．By sharing different life experiences. |
| B．By accepting different habits. |
| C．By properly using words. |
| D．By recognizing different values. |
The author wrote the last paragraph to ______.
| A．show how the dark sides of things affect people |
| B．advise people to see and say things positively |
| C．show how harsh and negative words hurt people |
| D．advise people to stay away from negative people |
The passage mainly talks about ______.
| A．the power of words |
| B．the cruelty of the king |
| C．how to understand others |
| D．how to build good relationships |
I remember the first time that I was extremely happy. I was about 8 years old when for the first time, there was a computer in the classroom. I remember that my teacher allowed each student to take turns to play various educational games on the computer. One day, I found the source code(编码) for one of these games. Without knowing or being taught any programming language, I was able to figure out some of the BASIC code. I just gave myself an infinite number of lives in the game, so I could continue playing it forever. This was also my first introduction to algebra, and I didn't even know it at the time. This was a decisive moment in my life. I was quite excited because of what I was learning and what I was able to do. As a result, I was enthusiastic for the rest of my life about self learning and computers, and I was quite happy doing them too.
I've noticed that people who are truly content with life are enthusiastic about what they do. This enthusiasm, along with good health, is the key to being happy. It also leads to self-confidence and content in life too. It may also lead to success, wealth, and achievements.
Success, wealth, or achievements can also bring some people happiness, yet I know plenty of rich people who are unhappy. I know many people with successful businesses that are not happy with what they are doing. I know people who continuously buy themselves new toys, such as cars, computers, and televisions, yet never seem content for too long. Please remember, happiness is the journey of life, not the destination.What can we know from Paragraph 1?
| A．The author has a great talent for algebra. |
| B．Creative thinking is necessary for every child. |
| C．The BASIC code of the computer is not difficult. |
| D．The author's experience in his childhood changed his life. |
The underlined word "infinite" means_______
| A．big | B．limitless |
| C．normal | D．small |
The author wants to tell us through his experience in the school that ________.
| A．interest is the best teacher |
| B．children are the hope of the future |
| C．young people are fearless |
| D．where there’s a will, there’s a way |
What is the secret of happiness in the author's opinion?
| A．Success and wealth. |
| B．Gifts and self-confidence. |
| C．Enthusiasm and good health. |
| D．Knowledge and achievements. |
We can infer from the last paragraph that ________.
| A．people who are rich and successful in career generally feel unhappy |
| B．wealth can’t bring people any happiness and comfort |
| C．one will feel unhappy once he has gained all the things that he wants |
| D．being enthusiastic about what you do is more important than wealth |
The Yale Peabody Museum is open：
Monday through Saturday 10：00 a. m. to 5：00 p. M.
Sunday Noon to 5：00 p. m.
The Museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Admission Fees：
$9.00 Adults
$8.00 Senior citizens 65 years and over
$5.00 Children ages 3 through 18, and college students with ID
$4.00 Group admission
To receive this reduced admission, groups must make a reservation at least 2 weekdays in advance. Group admission is only available with a written confirmation brought to the Museum at the time of the visit.
More attention：
Some halls may be closed to the public on weekday mornings during the academic year for school group programs, so we recommend visiting after 1 p.m. on weekdays or at any time on the weekends.
There is no cafeteria or lunchroom at the Peabody. Information on local eating places is available through our Restaurant Guide or at the Admission Desk in the lobby. Visitors are welcome to picnic on the lawns around the Museum.
Photography with handheld cameras is permitted in exhibition halls for personal use only; photography of The Age of Mammals is prohibited at all times. All other uses require the advance written permission of the Yale Peabody Museum.
Highlights Tours of the Museum are offered at no extra charge every Saturday and Sunday at 12: 30 and 1: 30 p.m. These 45minute tours of the Yale Peabody Museum’s exhibition halls are led by one of our specially trained volunteer guides.
The Museum offers free individual admission on Thursday afternoons from 2: 00 to 5: 00 p.m. during the months of September to June.
Admission is free to any individual with a valid Yale ID. Check out a Peabody Museum pass at your local library. A Museum pass will give you $5 off each admission for up to 4 people. Ask for it at your local library.To visit the museum, a 12yearold six grader should pay________.
| A．4 dollars | B．5 dollars |
| C．8 dollars | D．9 dollars. |
Visitors are allowed to have lunch ________.
| A．outside the museum |
| B．in any hall of the museum |
| C．in the cafeteria of the museum |
| D．in the lunchroom of the museum |
According to the passage, The Age of Mammals is most probablyin the museum.
| A．a book | B．a magazine |
| C．a video | D．an exhibition hall |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Admission for Yale students to visit the Museum is free. |
| B．Extra money is supposed to be paid for guides while visiting the Museum. |
| C．Some exhibition halls are not open Monday through Friday. |
| D．Photography is not allowed in exhibition halls for commercial use. |
The passage is written to ________.
| A．attract more visitors to the Yale Peabody Museum |
| B．introduce the exhibits in the Yale Peabody Museum |
| C．give instructions about visiting the Yale Peabody Museum |
| D．remind visitors how to get their admission to the Yale Peabody Museum |
Life on earth depends on water, and there is no substitute for it. The current assumption is that our basic needs for water — whether for drinking, agriculture, industry or the raising of fish will always have to be met. Given that premise（前提）, there are two basic routes we can go: more access to water or more engineering solutions (more dams, for instance).
Looking at the engineering solution first, a lot of my research concentrates on what happens to wetlands when you build dams in river basins, particularly in Africa. The ecology of such areas is almost entirely driven by the seasonal regime of the river, or rather, the pulse of the water. And the fact is that if you build a dam, you generally spoil the downstream ecology. In the past, such problems have been hidden by a lack of information. But in the next century, governments will have no excuse for their ignorance. The engineers ability to control water flows has created new kinds of unpredictability. Dams in Africa have meant fewer fish, less grazing and less agriculture — none of which were expected.
The challenge for the next century is to find new means of controlling water. Although GM technology will allow us to breed better dry-land crops, there is no market stimulation for companies to develop crops suitable for the micro-climates of the Sahel and elsewhere in Africa. Who is going to pay for research on locally appropriate crops in the Third World?
This brings us to the key issue in any discussion of water: money. In the next century, just consider the problems of water supply in Mexico City or Delhi. If you’re rich, you drink mineral water and may even have a swimming pool — yet millions in such cities can’t get safe drinking water. People talk about the coming water crisis. I believe we have one now. It is a water crisis for the poor.
In October 2010, I left my hometown and family in Virginia and moved to Iowa so I could be coached by Liang Chow. I’d been dreaming of an Olympic gold medal since I was eight—— but gradually, that dream seemed like a million miles away.
On January 2, 2012, while Mom was visiting me in Iowa, I told her, “I don’t like gymnastics anymore. I want to try dancing, or become a singer. I can get a job in Virginia. I just want to come home.”
Mom’s eyes narrowed and her expression turned to stone. “You’re breaking my heart Brie.” She said. “you’ve been doing gymnastics for ten years, and now you want to quit? Have you lost your mind?”
I hadn’t lost my mind, but I had lost my fire. It’s an entirely different thing to push toward that dream when you feel alone.
“I’m not trying to break your heart, Mom,” I said. “I just don’t want to do it anymore.”
“I know you miss home. But you’ve signed a contract that says you will represent your country to the best of your ability. You’ve got a responsibility to your teammates. And now you just want to walk away? I will not let you be dishonorable. If you don’t like gymnastics, then at the very least, you will finish the season.”
The next afternoon as I dragged myself into Chow’s gym. I thought of the efforts Mom had made in order to pay for my training. I thought of my two sisters: Arielle, who gave up ballroom dancing, and Joyelle, who stopped ice skating so that our single mom could afford to keep me in gymnastics.
For now, here’s what you need to know: Exactly 210 days before I ever attempted my first vault（跳跃）in the London Summer Olympics, my leap of faith came this close to ending in a crash of disaster.
| A．she thought she loved music more |
| B．she was overcome with homesickness |
| C．an Olympic gold was beyond her reach |
| D．the training for the Olympics was too hard |
| A．Heart-broken. | B．Sympathetic. |
| C．Helpless. | D．Calm. |
| A．was born into an athletic family |
| B．realized her Olympic dream |
| C．changed her mind in the end |
| D．had a bad childhood |
| A．A Dream Come True | B．My Leap of Faith |
| C．My Mother | D．A Quitter |
| A．A medical student who will graduate from university. |
| B．A healthcare professional who will give a lecture on cancer. |
| C．A marketing professional who is looking for customers. |
| D．A gymnastic player who wants to give up competition. |