Tim Richter and his wife, Linda, had taught for over 30 years near Buffalo, New York—he in computers, she in special education. “Teaching means everything to us.” Tim would say. In April 1998, he learned he would need a heart operation. It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose.
Not long after the surgery, Tim saw a brochure describing Imagination Library, a program started by Dolly Parton's foundation (基金会) that mailed a book every month to children from birth to age five in the singer's home town of Sevier, Tennessee. “I thought, maybe Linda and I could do something like this when we retire.” Tim recalls. He placed the brochure on his desk, “as a reminder”．
Five years later, now retired and with that brochure still on the desk, Tim clicked on imaginationlibrary.com. The program had been opened up to partners who could take advantage of book and postage discounts.
The quality of the books was of great concern to the Richters. Rather than sign up online, they went to Dollywood for a looksee. “We didn't want to give the children rubbish.” says Linda. The books—reviewed each year by teachers, literacy specialists, and Dollywood board members—included classics such as Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day and newer books like Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama series.
Satisfied, the couple set up the Richter Family Foundation and got to work. Since 2004, they have shipped more than 12,200 books to preschoolers in their area. Megan Williams, a mother of four, is more than appreciative：“This program introduces us to books I've never heard of.”
The Richters spend about $400 a month sending books to 200 children. “Some people sit there and wait to die.” says Tim. “Others get as busy as they can in the time they have left.”What led Tim to think seriously about the meaning of life?
| A．The news from the Web. | B．His love for teaching. |
| C．The influence of his wife. | D．His health problem. |
What did Tim want to do after learning about Imagination Library?
| A．Give out brochures. |
| B．Write books for children |
| C．Do something similar.. |
| D．Retire from being a teacher. |
According to the text, Dolly Parton is ________.
| A．a wellknown surgeon |
| B．a singer born in Tennessee |
| C．a mother of a fouryearold |
| D．a computer programmer |
What can we learn from Tim's words in the last paragraph?
| A．He considers his efforts worthwhile. |
| B．He wonders why some people are so busy. |
| C．He tries to save those waiting to die. |
| D．He needs more money to help the children. |
LIPITOR
ABOUT LIPITOR
Lipitor(【医】立普妥<降血脂药> )is a prescription medicine．Along with diet and exercise，it lowers "bad，'cholesterol(胆固醇)in your blood．It can also raise "good'' cholesterol.
Lipitor can lower the risk of heart attack in patients with several common risk factors，including family history of early heart disease，high blood pressure，age and smoking.
WHO IS LIPITOR FOR?
Who can take LIPITOR：
·People who cannot lower their cholesterol enough with diet and exercise
·Adults and children over l0
Who should NOT take LIPITOR：
·Women who are pregnant，may be pregnant，or may become pregnant. Lipitor may harm your unborn baby.
·women who are breast-feeding．Lipitor can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby.
·People with liver(肝脏)problems
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF LIPITOR
Serious side effects in a small number of people：
·Muscle(肌肉)problems that can lead to kidney(肾脏)problems，including kidney failure
·Liver problems．Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start Lipitor and while you are taking it．
Call your doctor right away if you have：
·Unexplained muscle pain or weakness，especially if you have a fever or feel very fired
·Swelling of the face，lips，tongue，and／or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing
·Stomach pain
Some common side effects of LIPITOR are：
·Muscle pain
·Upset stomach
·Changes in some blood tests
HOW TO TAKE LIPITOR
DO：
·Take Lipitor as prescribed by your doctor.
·Try to eat heart-healthy foods while you take Lipitor.
·Take Lipitor at any time of day, with or without food.
·If you miss a dose(一剂)，take it as soon as you remember. But if it has been more than12 hours since your missed dose，wait．Take the next dose at your regular time.
Don't：
·Do not change or stop your dose before talking to your doctor.
·Do not start new medicines before talking to your doctor.What is a major function of Lipitor?
| A．To help quit smoking. | B．To control blood pressure. |
| C．To improve unhealthy diet. | D．To lower "bad" cholesterol. |
Taking Lipitor is helpful for ____________________.
| A．breast-feeding women | B．women who are pregnant |
| C．adults having heart disease | D．teenagers with liver problems． |
If it has been over 12 hours since you missed a dose, you should____________.
| A．change the amount of your next dose | B．eat more when taking your next dose |
| C．have a dose as soon as you remember | D．take the next dose at your regular time |
Which of the following is a common side effect of taking Lipitor?
| A．Face swelling. | B．Upset stomach. | C．Kidney failure. | D．Muscle weakness. |
What is the main purpose of the passage?
| A．To teach patients ways for quick recovery. |
| B．To present a report on a scientific research. |
| C．To show the importance of a good lifestyle. |
| D．To give information about a kind of medicine. |
How I Turned to Be Optimistic
I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt's house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then . I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.
I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see-the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving never to come back was hardly in my head then.
The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism, but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost-having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to "the hard times".
My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with Immigration officers, took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.
From my experiences I have learned one important rule: almost all common troubles eventually go away! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up , and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy.How did the author get to know America?
| A．From her relatives. | B．From her mother. |
| C．From books and pictures. | D．From radio programs. |
Upon leaving for America the author felt_________________.
| A．confused | B．excited | C．worried | D．amazed |
For the first two years in New York, the author___________________ .
| A．often lost her way | B．did not think about her future |
| C．studied in three different schools | D．got on well with her stepfather |
What can we learn about the author from paragraph 4?
| A．She worked as a translator. |
| B．She attended a lot of job interviews. |
| C．She paid telephone bills for her family. |
| D．She helped her family with her English. |
The author believes that _________________ .
| A．her future will be free from troubles |
| B．it is difficult to learn to become patient |
| C．there are more good things than bad things |
| D．good things will happen if one keeps trying |
Mark Twain left school when he was twelve. Though he had little school education, he became the most famous writer of his time. He made millions of dollars by writing. His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clements, but he is better known all over the world as Mark Twain, his penname.
Mark Twain was born in 1835 and he was not a healthy baby. In fact, he was not expected to live through the first winter. But with his mother’s tender care, he managed to survive. As a boy, he caused much trouble to his parents. He used to play jokes on all his friends and neighbors. He didn’t like to go to school, and he ran away from home from time to time. He always went in the direction of the nearby Mississippi. He was nearly drowned(淹死) nine times.
After his father’s death in 1847, Mark Twain began to work for a printer, who only provided him with food and clothing. Then, he worked as a river-boat pilot and later joined the army. But shortly after that he became a miner, during this period, he started to write short stories. Afterwards he became a full-time writer.
In 1870, Mark Twain got married. In the years that followed he wrote many books including Tom Sawyer in 1876, and Huckleberry Finn in 1884, which made him famous, and brought him a great fortune（财富）.Unfortunately, Mark Twain got into debts in bad investments（投资） and he had to write large numbers of stories to pay these debts. In 1904, his wife died and then three of their children passed away.
He died on April 21, 1910 at the age of 70.Mark Twain was ________ in his childhood.
| A．a naughty boy | B．a good student |
| C．a handsome boy | D．a strong boy |
Mark Twain began to write short stories when he _______.
| A．was at school | B．was in the army |
| C．worked for a printer | D．was a miner |
Before he became a full time writer Mark Twain had not been ___
| A．a printer. | B．a miner |
| C．a tailor | D．a soldier |
Mark Twain’s wife died _________
| A．soon after she give birth to three children |
| B．at the same time with her children |
| C．before three of her children died |
| D．after Mark Twain had died |
Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed a boy ahead of him. He had tripped (绊倒) and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with some clothes, a baseball bat and a glove.
Mark knelt (跪) down and helped the boy pick up the things. Since they were going the same way, he offered to carry some things for the boy.
As they walked, Mark discovered the boy’s name was Bill. He loved video games, baseball and history, but he was having trouble with some of his subjects.
They arrived at Bill’s home first. Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with some laughs and talk. Then Mark went home.
They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, and then both graduated from junior school.
Three days before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.
Bill reminded (提醒) Mark of the day years ago when they had first met. “Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill.
“You see, I took away all my things from school. I had stored away some of my mother’s sleeping pills (安眠药). I was going home to kill myself. But after we spent some time talking and laughing, I realized that if I had died, I would have missed so many good times. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more._____________________”When Bill fell down on his way home, Mark ________.
| A．didn’t notice that |
| B．went away quickly |
| C．helped him pick up the things |
| D．carried all the things for him |
Which of the following is NOT true?
| A．Mark was a warm-hearted boy. |
| B．Bill was good at all of his subjects. |
| C．Bill and Mark were in the same school. |
| D．Bill loved video games, baseball and history. |
At Bill’s home, they didn’t ________.
| A．drink some Coke | B．watch TV |
| C．have a pleasant talk | D．play video games |
What would Bill probably say at last?
| A．I should die. | B．You saved my life. |
| C．You did a good job. | D．You helped me a lot. |
What to do if you don't feel popular？
●Try to take part in activities. Call your friends. Plan to do something. The worst feeling is staying home alone, because it makes you feel even more lonely.
●Try to make new friends. Choose friends carefully, not just because you think they're popular. And remember, making good friends takes time. Choosing a popular person to be friends with is okay. If they are nice.
●Be yourself（保持独立）. If you want to become friends with someone who's popular, don't make yourself into someone you are not just to impress that person.
●Be nice. Be friendly. Be outgoing（开朗的）. But don't overdo it！Talk to trusted friends if you are feeling really bad. Or you might want to write it down in a journal（期刊）or diary.
●Do something special for yourself. You could take pictures of your friends, or collect their school pictures, and take a collage（拼贴画）to hang on your wall. This will remind you, when you are feeling unpopular, that you really do have friends.
●Think up your own ideas. These suggestions might not work for everyone.
What to do if you have a problem with your teacher？
●Talk to your parents, or another adult who will listen to you and perhaps can help. Talk to your friends. Maybe they have had problems with the same teacher, too.
●Don't give the teacher a reason to have problems with you. Do your work, complete your task, attend the class seriously and take notes. Maybe you just need to give the teacher a chance（机会）.
●Try to find out what the problem is.
●Talk to the teacher if you feel comfortable doing this. Don't be nasty（闹别扭的）, but express your concerns（关心）. Listen to the teacher, as well.
●Just accept the fact that you're not going to love all your teachers.What do we mean by saying“ not feeling popular” ？
| A．Not liked by our classmates or workmates. |
| B．Not doing what we want. |
| C．Not showing any interest in anything. |
| D．Not so happy. |
What does the underlined word “overdo” mean?
| A．Do something too much or in an extreme way. |
| B．Try your best to do something. |
| C．Do something carefully. |
| D．Work too hard. |
The writer _______________. .
| A．believes that your friend will help you out if you take their pictures |
| B．suggests that you discuss the reason of problem with your teacher when you feel uncomfortable |
| C．wants you to know that students usually hates teachers |
| D．is not too sure if his advice will certainly work on you |
What's the best title of this passage？
| A．Why We Have Problems at School？ |
| B．Always be yourself. |
| C．How to Handle Problems at School？ |
| D．Don't Be Afraid of Problems With Others. |