Linda Evans was my best friend—like the sister I never had. We did everything together: piano lessons, movies, swimming, horseback riding.
When I was 13, my family moved away. Linda and I kept in touch through letters, and we saw each other on special time—like my wedding (婚礼) and Linda’s. Soon we were busy with children and moving to new homes, and we wrote less often. One day a card that I sent came back, stamped “Address (地址) Unknown. ” I had no idea how to find Linda.
Over the years, I missed Linda very much. I wanted to share happiness of my children and then grandchildren. And I needed to share my sadness when my brother and then mother died. There was an empty place in my heart that only a friend like Linda could fill.
One day I was reading a newspaper when I noticed a photo of a young woman who looked very much like Linda and whose last name was Wagman — Linda’s married name. “There must be thousands of Wagmans,” I thought, but J still wrote to her.
She called as soon as she got my letter. “Mrs Tobin!” she said excitedly, “Linda Evans Wagman is my mother. ”
Minutes later I heard a voice that I knew very much, even after 40 years, laughed and cried and caught up on each other’s lives. Now the empty place in my heart is filled. And there’s one thing that Linda and I know for sure: We won’t lose each other again!The writer went to piano lessons with Linda Evans _______.
| A．at the age of 13 |
| B．before she got married |
| C．after they moved to new homes |
| D．before the writer’s family moved away |
They didn’t often write to each other because they _______.
| A．got married |
| B．had little time to do so |
| C．didn’t like writing letters |
| D．could see each other on special time |
There was an empty place in the writer’s heart because she _______.
| A．was in trouble |
| B．didn’t know Linda’s address |
| C．received the card that she sent |
| D．didn’t have a friend like Linda to share her happiness or sadness |
The writer was happy when she _______.
| A．read the newspaper |
| B．heard Linda’s voice on the phone |
| C．met a young woman who looked a lot like Linda |
| D．wrote to the woman whose last name was Wagman |
They haven’t kept in touch _______.
| A．for about 40 years |
| B．for about 27 years |
| C．since they got married |
| D．since the writer’s family moved away |
Mother’s Day is usually celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year. Do you know that a mom deserves a special gift this year for Mother’s Day? Sure, flowers can always brighten Mother’s Day and a dinner out is al
way
s appreciated. However, doesn’t she deserve something more personal or something that lasts longer than an evening?
I’m talking about the gift of fitness. Improved fitness is a gift that is invaluable to everyone. When you give a woman the gift of fitness, you are helping her open her door to better health. I can’t think of a more thoughtful gift that shows the recipient （接受者）how much you care about their well-being. By giving the gift of fitness you are providi
ng them with unlimited health benefits. Besides, it’s a gift that you can truly feel proud to give.
Of course, we all know that exercising can help people stay slim and fit. But, do you also know about all the other great benefits of exercising? Daily physical activities reduce stress and help you sleep better. Fitn
ess has been linked to reducing the risk of some diseases and to warding off depression. Researchers also believe that strength training can help prevent osteoporosis （骨质疏松）. Not to mention that exercising also improves self-esteem, increases energy and helps you be able to do continuous work for longer.
All moms would find these benefits extremely great. If they are like mo
st of us, they have probably even mentioned how they would like to drop a few pounds or just get in better shape. In fact, experts say that about 62% of Americans are currently on a diet. By giving the gift of fitness, you are helping provide your mom with extra motivation. She may be more motivated to actually get fit because she doesn’t want to feel guilty about ignoring such a thoughtful gift. The first paragraph is likely to tell us that ________.
| A．we should give a special gift to our mom for Mother’s Day |
| B．we should invite our mom to a dinner for Mother’s Day |
| C．it’s good to send flowers to moms for Mother’s Day |
| D．moms aren’t worth special gifts for Mother’s Day |
The underlined word “invaluable”（in paragraph 2） means ________.
| A．priceless | B．worthless | C．useless | D．helpless |
According to this passage, the gift of fitness will ________.
| A．make moms feel prouder |
| B．let moms free from illnesses |
| C．keep moms having a healthy diet |
| D．encourage moms to do more exercise |
Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
| A．Better Pay Attention to Your Mother’s Health |
| B．Give the Gift of Fitness This Mother’s Day |
| C．Moms Like to Accept the Gift of Fitness |
| D．Help Your Mother Keep a Good Shape |
Have you ever noticed what happens to an idea once you express it? Just talking about it or writing it down causes you to make it clear in your own mind. How can you use this to increase your brain power? Start writing.
By putting thoughts into words, you are telling yourself the logic (逻辑) behind what you think, feel, or only partly understand. Often, explaining a thought is the process of understanding. In other words, you increase your brain power by exercising your “explain power.”
Try this experiment. Explain how you’ll increase your brain power, even if you have no idea how right now. Just start with anything, and create an explanation. For example, start with “I’ll learn chess,” or “I’ll read an article on the mind every week.” Explain how that will help. You’ll be surprised how often this becomes a workable plan, and if you actually do this, you’ll have a better understanding of your brain twenty minutes from now.
Another benefit of writing is that it helps you remember. Many, if not most, highly productive people are always taking notes. You can try keeping it all in your head, but if you keep a journal of your ideas the next time you’re working on a big project, you’ll probably have more success.
Want to understand a topic? Write a book about it. That’s an extreme example, but if you are learning some
thing new, write a letter to a friend about it, and you will understand it better. Want to invent something? Write an explanation of the problem, why you want to solve it, and why it is worth solving, and you’re half-way there.
Write
rs don’t always write because they clearly understand something beforehand. Often, they write about something because they want to understand it. You can do the same. Writing will help bring you to an understanding. Give it a try. What would be the best title for the text?
| A．A Way on How to Write |
| B．Increase Your Brain Power through Writing |
| C．Brain Power Helps Improve Your Writing |
| D．How to Start Your Writing |
According to the text, writing can help you a lot in the following ways EXCEPT ______.
| A．the increase of your brain power | B．the ability to remember |
| C．the development of your interest in study | D．the better understanding of a topic |
The underlined sentence “you’re half-way there
” in the fifth paragraph implies that ______.
| A．you are already successful | B．you still need to work hard |
| C．writing can help you walk half way | D．writing is important to solve problems |
What’s the main purpose of the writer writing the text?
| A．To advise readers to start their writing. |
| B．To explain the importance of writing. |
| C．To persuade readers to become writers. |
| D．To increase readers’ brain power. |
ARLANDA, Sweden (Reuters Life!) --Many people hate the idea of having to sleep on a plane. But Swedish entrepreneur（企业家）Oscar Dios thinks they can be persuaded otherwise and he has created a new kind of hostel（旅社）to prove it.
Dios says it is the world’s first Jumbo jet hostel, an actual jet-plane at Sweden’s main airport outside Stockholm which has been changed into a 25-room guesthouse that sleeps as many as 72 people.
“I learned about this plane that was standing deserted at Arlanda airport and I’ve been trying the concept of hostels in many different houses and buildings,” he told Reuters. “I thought, ‘ Why not a plane?’ ”
Jumbo Hostels opened for business on Thursday, giving customers the chance to check in and sleep in a room that can best be described as comfortable.
“The most challenging part with this project is trying to build something inside a metal hull(外壳)--it’s just really, really tight.”
The jet, which was originally produced for Singapore Airlines, was taken out of service in 2002. It is held on a concrete（混凝土）foundation with the landing gear（着陆装置）secured in steel cradles.
One feature of the hostel is its price--a room starts at 350 Swedish crowns (about $ 41 ), which is a lot less than hotel rooms outside of major airports.
Another feature is that customers can get married on the wing of the plane and stay in the plane’s more luxurious honeymoon suite (套房).
Instead of walking down the aisle（过道）in the church, lovebirds can take what Jumbo Hostels calls the “wing walk,” where they can be joined in great happiness at the wing tip. The hostel has someone ready to perform the ceremony.
But in some respects, this hostel remains a plane--most customers have to share the jet’s nine bathrooms and the staff only wear air host and hostess clothes. The only room that has its own bath-room is the honeymoon suite. One of the features of the plane hostel is that _______.
| A．customers can sleep in comfortable rooms | B．air hostesses can offer good service |
| C．the staff can have a “wing walk” | D．a wedding ceremony can be held on the wing |
We can learn from the text that _______.
| A．the hostel lies at Arlanda airport in Stockholm |
| B．the jet plane was out of use for over six years |
| C．every hostel room is $ 41 per night |
| D．the hostel provides nine bathrooms for customers |
The underlined word "tight" means _______.
| A．crowded | B．tense | C．small | D．full |
The purpose of the passage is to _______.
| A．introduce a new kind of hostel | B．prove people can sleep on a plane |
| C．describe a wonderful place for weddings | |
| D．call on people to make use of the deserted things |
Experience the Colorado River the Hualapai Way!
River Runners offers the ONLY One Day Whitewater trip ANYWHEERE at the
GRAND CANYOU!
Since1973，Hualapai River Runners has been conducting whitewater rafting journey to the Colorado River. Our experienced guides expertly sail along the river and share the history of the Canyon and the Hualapai people with you.
Visitors experience the excitement of whitewater rapids and then stop to enjoy the impressive beauty of Travertine Falls and a tasty lunch．No charge for children 2 years and under.
One-Day Trip
Retail$249.00+$79.00(helicopter and round-trip ground transportation)
Whitewater rafting tours begin in Peach Springs．Hualapai River Runners transports you to Diamond Creek, which i
s the starting point for the 37 mile rafting tour. Lunch is included and upon arrival at the rafting tour termination point(终点)，fly out of the Grand Canyon by helicopter （直升机）to Grand Canyon West．
Two-Day Trip
Retail$549.00+$79.00(helicopter and round-trip ground transportation)
Two-day rafting trips with one night on the Colorado River. All supplies and meals are included. Two days in the Grand Canyon，on the Colorado River allows more time to explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World。
Tours Include：
●Round-trip transportation from Peach Springs to the starting point and from the termination point back to Peach Springs．
●Snack，drinks and lunch(vegetarian meals available upon request)
●Waterproof dry bags for storing your cameras, sunscreen, dry clo
thes, etc．
●The helicopter part of transportation is weather permitting. If the helicopter transportation is cancelled because of bad weather, the raft will continue an additional two hours to South Cove and a maximum（最大量）$20.00 per customer will be given back.
Special Website booking rate 15% off rafting in April 2010. So book now!
Call us Toll Free Today! Tel: 1-888-868-9378Where do whitewater rafting tours start?
| A．Travertine Falls | B．Peach Springs |
| C．Diamond Creek | D．Grand Canyon West |
We learn from the passage that _______.
| A．Hualapai River Runners provides dry clothes |
| B．you will get $20 back if you are dissatisfied |
| C．the trip is free of charge for children under 2 |
| D．online booking has a better offer all year round |
What is the purpose of the passage?
| A．To attract people to the sights | B．To explore the Hualapai culture |
| C．To explain how to make a rafting trip | D．To i ntroduce the history of the Colorado River |
When I was nine years old I lived in a small town. I found an ad for selling greeting cards in the back of a children’s magazine. I thought to myself I could do this. I begged my mother to let me send for the kit (配件). Two weeks later the kit arrived. The next three hours later, I returned home with no card and a pocket full of money shouting, “Mama, all the people couldn’t wait to buy my cards!” A salesperson was born.
When I was twelve years old, my father took me to see Zig Ziegler. I remember sitting in the dark hall listening to Mr. Ziegler raise everyone’s spirits up to ceiling. I left there feeling like I could do anything. When we got to the car, I turned to my father and said, “Dad, I want to make people feel like that.” My father asked me what I meant. “I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr. Ziegler,” I replied. A dream was born.
Recently, I began pursuing（追求） my dream of motivating others. I realized that everything I had accomplished — the graduate degree, the successful sales career, speaking appointments, training and managing for a major fortune 100 company as a senior manager— had prepared me for this moment. I told my boss who was a great leader I would leave the company though I might not reach such a height in career. He told me to proceed（进行） and he believed I would succeed.
Having made that decision, I was immediately tested. One week after I gave notice, my husband was laid off from his job. We had recently bought a new home and needed both incomes to make the monthly mortgage (抵押) payment and now we were done to no income. I even planned to turn back to my former company, knowing they wanted me to stay but I was certain that if I went back, I would never leave. I decided I still wanted to move forward rather than end up with a mouth full of “if onlys” later on. A motivational speaker was born.
When I held fast to my dream, even during the tough times, the miracles（奇迹） really began to happen. In a short time period my husband found a better job. We didn’t miss a mortgage payment. And I was able to book several speaking appointments with new clients (客户). I discovered the incredible power of dreams. I loved my old job, my workmates and the company I left, but it was time to get on with my dream. To celebrate my success I had a local artist paint my new office as a garden. At the top of one wall she marked, “The world always makes way for the dreamer.”Why was the kit sent for?
| A．Selling greeting cards. | B．Collecting greeting cards. |
| C．Buying greeting cards. | D．Sending greeting cards. |
When did the author decide to become a motivational speaker?
| A．After buying a new home by mortgage. |
| B．After giving notice to leave her safe position in the company. |
| C．After finding a job in a major fortune 100 company. |
| D．After listening to Mr. Ziegler’s inspiring speech. |
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?
| A．She was once an excellent manager. |
| B．She left her post at the height of her career. |
| C．She was not sure whether the former company could accept her. |
| D．She didn’t miss paying the monthly mortgage payment. |
What does the underlined sentence mean in the last paragraph?
| A．Carry on with your dreams and you will be successful. |
| B．Risk everything you have for a dream and you will succeed. |
| C．The world belongs to dreamers. |
| D．Everyone will find their dreams. |