Have you ever heard the saying “Don’t rest on your laurels”? “Laurels” means the achievements you have already got. The saying means that you shouldn’t be so happy with your achievements(成就)that you’ll no longer try to improve.
As to this saying, Mike Perham has set us a good example. Born in 1992 in Hertfordshire, England, Mike was just 14 when he became the youngest person to sail across the Atlantic Ocean(大西洋). You might think the achievements are good enough, but Mike doesn’t think so. At the age of 17,he became the youngest person to sail all by himself around the world on a nine-month voyage(航海). Mike is now 19, and he is still trying his best to break the records and push himself further. For his next try, he plans to fly around the world on his own, making him the first person of all ages to both sail and fly around the world.
Mike wants his achievements to encourage young people to realize their dreams. Since his achievements, he has travelled widely, speaking at schools and youth clubs in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia on the theme of “Live the Dream”.
Amazing Facts:
Mike started sailing when he was seven.
His trans-Atlantic crossing began at Gibraltar and ended in Antigua.
His round-the-world yacht(游艇) was called TotallyMoney.com.
Title: Don’t Rest on Your Laurels
Passage outline |
Supporting details |
The meaning of the saying |
“Don’t rest on your laurels" means that you shouldn’t stop |
Amazing facts |
• At the age of 7, Mike started sailing. • At the age of 14,sailing across the Atlantic Ocean made Mike become the • At the age of 17, Mike had a nine-month voyage of sailing |
Present situation |
Mike is 19 now. He is trying his best to break the records. His |
The |
Mike’s speeches give young people courage(勇气) to realize their dreams. |
Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, and in particular, their parents, don’t know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it is quite often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice.
It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or a circle of friends Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among them on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one.
Who chooses your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got a good friend your parents don’t like?
Your answers are welcome.Many teenagers think their ________ know them better than their parents do.
A.friends | B.brothers | C.sisters | D.teachers |
When teenagers stay alone, their usual way of communication is ________.
A.to go to their friends |
B.to talk with their parents |
C.to have a discussion with their family by phone |
D.to talk with their friends on the phone |
Which of the following is different in meaning from the sentences “Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their friends?
A.Some parents may even not allow their children to meet their good friends. |
B.Some parents may even ask their children to stay away from their good friends. |
C.Some parents may even not let their children meet their good friends. |
D.Some parents may want their children to meet their good friends at the stop. |
Which of the following sentences is right according to the passage?
A.Parents should like everything their children enjoy. |
B.In all families children can choose everything they like. |
C.Parents should try their best to understand their children better. |
D.Teenagers can only go to their friends for help. |
The sentence “Your answers are welcome” means“________”.
A.You are welcome to have a discussion with us. |
B.We’ve got no idea, so your answers are welcome. |
C.Your answers are always correct. |
D.You can give us all the right answers. |
Which is the best title of the passage?
A.Only Parents Can Decide | B.Parents and Children |
C.Teenagers Need Friends | D.A Strange Question |
Many cultures have different ideas about why people catch colds. For example in the United States, some people think that you can catch a cold if your feet get cold. So, mothers tell small children to wear warm boots in the winter. In other places, including parts of the Middle East, some people believe that strong winds cause colds. So, on trains and buses, people usually don’t like to sit next to open windows. In parts of Europe, some people think that wearing wet clothes will give you a cold. They say that after you go swimming, you should quickly put on dry clothes. Today, scientists know that colds are caused by a virus(病毒). But the old ideas are still very strong, and many people still follow them to avoid(避免)getting ill.What is the main idea of this reading?
A.People still believe old ideas about why they catch colds. |
B.Colds are the biggest health problem in the world. |
C.Some people think that strong winds cause colds. |
D.You should take good care of your health in winter. |
Which is NOT a cause(成因)of colds in the reading?
A.bad food | B.wet clothes | C.a virus | D.strong winds |
In "people still follow them to avoid getting ill", what does "them" mean?
A.scientists | B.old ideas | C.colds | D.dry clothes |
According to the reading, which of the following is NOT true?
A.There are many different ideas about how people catch colds. |
B.Scientists don’t know how people catch colds. |
C.Some people think that wearing wet clothes gives you a cold. |
D.In the U.S., many small children wear boots in winter. |
Many people in different countries have ________ ideas about why people catch colds.
A.no | B.one | C.the same | D.different |
Blue Water World |
A great place for the whole family We have... * a gym * a hot spring bath * swimming pools * a cinema all with activities or lessons for both you and your children Price: ¥80 a person ¥40 for children under 14 Open: 11:00 a.m.~ 11:00 p.m. except Monday The fun never stops at Blue Water World! Telephone: 555-5683/555-5686 Website: www.bluewaterworld.com.cn |
Mr. Smith wants to go to Blue Water World with his family, so they can go there ________.
A.at 5:00 pm on Monday | B.at 10:00 am on Tuesday |
C.at 2:00 pm on Sunday | D.at 11:00 am on Monday |
Who would most likely go to Blue Water World often?
A.Mr. Wang; he loves taking a hot spring bath. |
B.Miss Gao; she is looking for a place to go fishing. |
C.Mr. Chen; he enjoys swimming in the early morning. |
D.Mrs. Jin; she needs a quiet place to talk about business. |
Mr. Lin wants to go to Blue Water World with his eight-year-old twin sons this Saturday. How much will they have to pay?
A.¥80 | B.¥240 | C.¥160 | D.¥40 |
If you go to Blue Water World, you can do all the following things there except _______.
A.watching movies | B.doing exercise |
C.taking a bath | D.eating Italian food |
Many people take trains for their trips in China, because the train is fast and cheap. But there are many problems when people take trains. It’s not easy to take trains when it is a festival. Lots of people hope someone can solve (解决) the problems.
Then, the CRH (和谐号列车) trains come out. The first CRH train from Beijing to Tianjin runs in August, 2008. CRH1 and CRH2 can go up to 200 km/h, and CRH3 can run 300 km/h. Taking CRH trains is more expensive than taking a traditional train, but cheaper than taking a plane. Some people think the CRH trains and their workers are good, and they enjoy the trips by CRH train.
China starts to make a CRH train, 350 kilometres an hour from Beijing to Shanghai. It can save people more time than taking the traditional trains.
Can CRH trains solve the problems? “Of course not. There is still a long way to go,” about 80% of the people answer.The first CRH train runs __________.
A.in August, 2009 | B.in May, 2008 |
C.in August, 2008 | D.in June, 2010 |
How fast does the CRH train from Beijing to Shanghai?
A.100 km/h | B.200 km/h | C.300 km/h | D.350 km/h |
The word “save” means __________ in Chinese.
A.浪费 | B.节省 | C.积攒 | D.拖延 |
Which of the following is right about the CRH trains?
A.The workers on the first CRH train are not kind. |
B.It costs people more money to take CRH trains than to take planes. |
C.CRH3 train runs slower than CRH1 and CRH2. |
D.Taking CRH train is expensive but it is fast. |
Can CRH trains solve all the traffic problems?
A.Of course they can. | B.Yes, all the people think they can. |
C.Of course they can not. | D.About 80% of the people think they can. |
Let me tell you my pen friend Ivan. He is 12 years old. He likes playing football. He usually play football with his friends at weekends.
Ivan lives with his father and mother in a city in France. They have a dream home with five rooms, a swimming pool and a garden. They often have a party in the garden at weekends. They like to help their neighbours. His home is not near his school, so Ivan takes a bus for an hour and then walks for 10 minutes to school. There is a Basketball Club near his school. He likes play basketball in the club.
Ivan’s father is a worker. He is busy. Ivan’s mother is a doctor. She is nice to the patients. Ivan wants to be a teacher when he grows up. I want to be a teacher, too. Every month Ivan writes two letters to me. He’ll come to Suqian next year. We’ll meet then.What are Ivan’s hobbies?
A.Basketball and swimming | B.football and basketball |
C.Football and swimming | D.Reading and swimming |
How old is Ivan when he comes to Suqian?
A.He is 11. | B.He is 12. | C.He is 13. | D.He is 14. |
How often does Ivan write to me?
A.Twice a month. | B.Twice a week. |
C.Every day. | D.Every week. |
Ivan studies in _________ now.
A.America | B.Suqian | C.France | D.Japan |
Which is the best title(标题) for the passage?
A.How to Make Penfriends | B.Something About Ivan |
C.What Is Ivan’s Home Like | D.Ivan’s School Life |