In a room at Texas Children Cancer Center in Houston, eight-year-old Simran Jatar lay in bed with a drip (点滴) above her to fight her bone cancer. Over her bald (秃的) head, she wore a pink hat that matched her clothes. But the third grader’s cheery dressing didn’t mask her pain and weary eyes.
Then a visitor showed up. “Do you want to write a song?” asked Anita Kruse, 49, rolling a cart equipped with an electronic keyboard, a microphone and speakers. Simran stared. “Have you ever written a poem?” Anita Kruse continued. “Well, yes,” Simran said.
Within minutes, Simran was reading her poem into the microphone. “Some bird soaring through the sky,” she said softly. “Imagination in its head…” Anita Kruse added piano music, a few warbling (鸣, 唱) birds, and finally the girl’s voice. Thirty minutes later, she presented Simran with a CD of her first recorded song.
That was the beginning of Anita Kruse’s project, Purple Songs Can Fly, one that has helped more than 125 young patients write and record songs. As a composer and pianist who had performed at the hospital, Kruse said that the idea of how she could help “came in one flash”.
The effect on the kids has been great. One teenage girl, curling (蜷缩) in pain in her wheelchair, stood unaided to dance to a hip-hop song she had written. A 12-year-old boy with Hodgkin’s disease who rarely spoke surprised his doctors with a song he called I Can Make It.
“My time with the kids is heartbreaking because of the severity of their illnesses,” says Anita Kruse. “But they also make you happy, when the children are smiling, excited to share their CD with their families.”
Simran is now an active sixth grader and cancer-free. From time to time, she and her mother listen to her song, Always Remembering, and they always remember the “really sweet and nice and loving” lady who gave them a shining moment in the dark hour.Simran Jatar lay in bed in hospital because ______.
| A．most of her hair had fallen out |
| B．she was receiving treatment for cancer |
| C．she felt depressed and quit from school |
| D．she was suffering from a pain in her back |
What do we know about Anita Kruse’s project?
| A．It helps young patients record songs. |
| B．It is supported by singers and patients. |
| C．It aims to replace the medical treatment. |
| D．It offers patients chances to realize their dreams. |
What does the case of a 12-year-old boy suggest?
| A．Most children are naturally fond of music. |
| B．He was brave enough to put up performance. |
| C．The project has positive effect on young patients. |
| D．Singing is the best way to treat some illnesses. |
What is probably the best title for the passage?
| A．Purple Songs Can Fly |
| B．Singing Can Improve Health |
| C．A Shining Moment in Life |
| D．A Kind Woman—Anita Kruse |
“I’ve changed my mind. I wanted to have a telescope, but now I want my dad back.” Lucien Lawrence’s letter to Father Christmas, written after his father had been knifed to death outside his school gate, must have touched everyone’s heart. Lucien went on to say that without his father he couldn’t see the stars in the sky. When those we love depart from us, we cannot see the stars for a while.
But Lucien, the stars are still there, and one day, when you are older and your tears have gone, you will see them again. And, in a strange way, I expect that you will find your father there too, either in your mind or heart. I find that my parents, who died years ago, still linger (留连) in many of my dreams and that I think of them perhaps more than I ever did when they were alive. I still live to please them and I’m still surprised by their reactions. I remember that when I became a professor, I was so proud, or rather so pleased with myself that I couldn’t wait to cable my parents. The reply was a long time in coming, but when it did, all my mother said was “I hope this means that now you will have more time for the children!” I haven’t forgotten. The values of my parents still live on.
It makes me pause and think about how I will live on in the hearts and minds of my children and of those for whom I care. Would I have been as ready as Philip Lawrence has been to face the aggressors（入侵者）, and to lay down my life for those in my care? How many people would want me back for Christmas? It’s a serious thought, which gives me pause.
I pray silently, sometimes, in the dead of night, that ancient cry of a poet “Deliver my soul from the sword and my darling from the power of the dog.” Yet I know death comes to us all, and sometimes comes suddenly. We must therefore plan to live together, but live as if we will die tomorrow. We live on, I’m sure, in the lives of those we loved, and therefore we ought to have a care for what they will remember and what they will treasure. If more parents knew this in their hearts to be true, there might be fewer knives on our streets today. According to the whole text we can see that the first paragraph ___________.
| A．puts forward the subject of the text |
| B．shows the author’s pity on the kid |
| C．serves as an introduction to the discussion |
| D．makes a clear statement of the author’s views |
In the second paragraph the author mainly wants to explain to us____________.
| A．how much he misses his parents now |
| B．why his parents often appear in his dream |
| C．when Lucien will get over all his sadness |
| D．how proud he was when he succeeded in life |
What feeling did the author’s mother express in her reply?
| A．Proud. | B．Happy. | C．Disappointed. | D．Worried. |
In the author’s opinion, the value of a person’s life is _____________.
| A．to leave a precious memory to the people related |
| B．to have a high sense of duty to the whole society |
| C．to care what others will remember and treasure |
| D．to share happiness and sadness with his family |
What does the writer mean by the sentence taken from an old poem?
| A．Call on criminals and murderers to lay down their guns. |
| B．Advise parents stay with their children safely at home. |
| C．Spend every day meaningfully in memory of death. |
| D．Try to keep violence and murder far away from society. |
The USA, New York—Whales and dolphins are facing increasing threats from climate change, according to a new report published by WWF and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society （WDCS）．
The report "Whales in hot water?" draws attention to the growing impacts of climate change on whales．They range from changes in sea temperature and the freshening of the seawater because of the melting of ice and increased rainfalls, to a sea level rise, loss of icy polar habitats and the decline of krill populations in key areas．Krill, a tiny shrimp that is dependent on sea ice, is the main source of food for many of the great whales．
The speeding up of climate change adds greatly to trouble from other human activities, such as chemical and noise pollution, which kills some 1000 whales every day．
"Whales and dolphins have an ability to adapt to their changing environment," said Mark Simmonds, International Director of Science at WDCS．"But the climate is now changing at such a fast pace that it is unclear to what extent whales and dolphins will be able to adjust．"
Climate change impacts are currently greatest in the Arctic and the Antarctic．According to the report, cetaceans that rely on polar, icy waters for their home and food resources are likely to be greatly affected by the reduction of sea ice cover．
WDCS and WWF are urging governments to cut global production of C02 by at least 50 percent by the middle of this century．The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change showed it was possible to stop global warming if the world's emissions start to decline before 2015．Which of the following is the most important for whales and dolphins?
| A．Rainfall | B．Krill | C．Sea ice cover | D．High sea level |
From the passage, we can learn that whales mainly feed on _____．
| A．dolphins | B．krill | C．sea horses | D．sharks |
The underlined word "decline" in Paragraph 2 means _____．
| A．increase | B．control | C．protection | D．fall |
In what place is climate change greatest?
| A．The Pacific Ocean | B．Asia． |
| C．Two polar areas． | D．Equator． |
Which of the following is not right according to the passage?
| A．Climate change will lead to the changes in sea temperature． |
| B．Climate change will result in the freshening of the sea water． |
| C．Climate change will have a bad effect on human activities and whales． |
| D．Human beings will forever have no ability to stop global warming． |
New friends. Fresh lifestyle. Better career opportunities… Those are attractions of overseas study for young people in China. “Start early, finish strong,” some of them say.
More than 300 universities from 27 countries and regions were represented at last weekend’s international education exposition.
|
The US
The US has always been oft the top destination list for Chinese students, with its high education standards and enough scholarships．
|
|
Canada
Canada's multicultural environment is good for students' studies and careers．
|
Australia
Good climate, high quality education and favorable immigration policy—these make Australia one of the most popular choices among Chinese students．| A．Canada | B．the UK | C．the US | D．Australia |
Many young people go to study in the US because _____．
| A．it is very difficult for them to get a student visa |
| B．it is easier for them to pass the TOFEL or GRE |
| C．they don't spend much time applying to US universities |
| D．they think they can receive good university education |
If you want to go on staying in the country after you finish studying there, you will choose ______．
| A．Australia or the UK | B．Canada or Australia |
| C．the US or the UK | D．Canada or the UK |
In which of the following countries may money be the most concern while studying abroad?
| A．The US &- the UK． | B．The UK &- Canada． |
| C．The UK &- Australia． | D．Canada &- the US． |
The passage is intended to give _____．
| A．information for foreign study |
| B．advice on job seeking |
| C．suggestions on traveling abroad |
| D．tips on getting-visas |
When I was born, my parents immediately noticed something wrong. My feet were deformed (畸形的), pointing inward and curling under. I wore casts (石膏) and foot braces (支架) in my first two years to correct the problem. Yet I learned to balance and walk in casts. Soon after the last set of casts came off，Mom enrolled me in dance classes as therapy for my feet. I, however，quickly decided to try something else. Not far from my house was an ice rink (溜冰场) in the mall. There，local skaters would perform ice shows. I wanted to try skating.
I started taking group skating lessons. Performing on ice came naturally. For me，skating has never been about beating others. It’s been about being my personal best. I progressed through various levels rapidly and gave my first ice performance at age seven. Soon I started winning local and regional competitions. That’s because being on the ice has always been the one place I can truly express my emotions. The ice is like home.
I began seriously training when I was nine years old. After graduating from girls’ high school，I moved to Canada. Saying goodbye to my family and friends made me homesick，but I knew deep down that I had to leave and train full－time to give my dreams a chance at reality.
I went to compete in the Olympic Games in 1992.I was the first of the final six skaters on the ice. My long performance started well，but I slipped while landing one of my easiest triple jumps，and my hand touched the ice. I didn’t want to make two mistakes in a row，so next I did a jump with just two spins to play it safe. As I neared the end，I had one more jump. I landed it perfectly.
When medals were awarded，I found myself on the top step，the gold hanging around my neck and America’s national anthem playing. Words can’t describe the overwhelming mixture of emotions I felt.The author was enrolled in dance classes to________.
| A．meet her interest |
| B．improve her dancing skills |
| C．help treat her feet |
| D．prepare her for skating |
When the author says “The ice is like home”，she really means she________.
| A．can express herself through her performance on ice |
| B．can beat others in local and regional competitions |
| C．can overcome her difficulty in walking |
| D．has realized her dream to perform on ice |
The author moved to Canada after graduating from girls’ high school because________.
| A．she could get better treatment of her feet there |
| B．she would do full－time training there |
| C．that was where the Olympics would hold |
| D．she wanted to have further study there |
What do we learn about the author’s performance in the 1992 Olympic Games?
| A．She completed it without any mistake. |
| B．She made one mistake on the final landing. |
| C．She did it quite well except for one mistake. |
| D．She made more than one mistake. |
By her own experience，the author intends to tell us________.
| A．we can realize our dream if we have the courage to pursue it |
| B．even the disabled can take part in the Olympic Games |
| C．sports can help people heal both body and mind |
| D．sports events are not about winning only |
It is not unusual at all for teens to answer their parents with one work answers. “Where are you going?” “Places.” “When will you be back?” “Sometime.” “Who will you be with?” “People.”
That means that the days of your children bounding in the front door with the details of their day are over. They are breaking away from you so that they’ll be able to stand on their own as a young adult.
Some parents feel sad about this loss of their children’s closeness. Of course you miss those conversations and friendly talks. Once your children move out after high school and establish themselves confidently as a young adult, they’ll come back for easy conversations and even ask for advice. But in order to determine who they are right now they need to separate from you.
Your job, however, is to keep them safe——and that requires knowing there they are and who they are with. Let them know clearly that it’s not because you want to dominate their life and control them; it’s because it’s a safety issue for family members to keep track of one another.
When they’re home and sit down to eat a meal, sit down with them. You need to open up to them about your life. Tell them of an interesting incident at the office, let them in on a bit of family gossip(闲谈), discuss a piece of news with them. They are glad that you see them as old enough to be in on a few experiences of your life. By letting a teen in on your life, they just may let you in of theirsThe underlined word “That” in Paragraph 2 probably refers to “”.
| A．teens no longer tell parents their detailed information |
| B．teens don’t tell parents where they had been any more |
| C．parents are impatient to listen to their children |
| D．parents are occupied by doing their business |
It can be inferred from the passage that .
| A．the generation gap is becoming wider and wider |
| B．teens quarrel a lot with their parents |
| C．teens don’t want to live with other family members |
| D．some parents feel distant from their teenage children |
The author believes that teens’ one-word answers show.
| A．their awareness of independence |
| B．their physical and mental changes |
| C．an unpleasant parent-child relationship |
| D．their wishes for keeping silent |
What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?
| A．Parents should understand their children. |
| B．parents should keep their children safe. |
| C．Parents should open their hearts to their children. |
| D．Parents should give their children enough freedom. |
What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
| A．To give advice |
| B．To direct teenagers |
| C．To present findings |
| D．To comfort parents |