In a movie, a woman reads a storybook to her friend’s daughter. As they approach the last page, she reads, “...and Cinderella and the prince lived happily together ever after.” She closes the book and looks at the young girl, adding, “You know, things don’t always happen like this in real life. I just think you should know that now.”
We were all raised on fairy tales with glass slippers, brave princes and magic! It didn’t take too long to realize that stories like that aren’t necessarily true. In the life, you learned that glass slippers are really uncomfortable, no prince is perfect and magic doesn’t always work.
So what do you do when the way you planned things is not the way they turned out?
Know that parts of your fairy tale have already been written, and sadly, there’s not a whole lot you can do about those first few chapters.You didn’t get the best start.Your trust was unexpectedly betrayed. You didn’t get the job. Whatever falls and failures that happened in your past are just that in your past. There’s still more to the story.
While your life has a lot of contributors(投稿者), you are the editor-in-chief. You take what’s there and create the masterpiece. All the good pages and the bad can come together to make a beautiful adventure.
When you find yourself wishing your life was more like the fairy tales, remember that in some ways it already is. There will be dragons, bad witches, great romances, winding roads and friends to help you along the way. So, keep rewriting your story every day that you’re alive. Whether it’s a comedy, tragedy or a little of both, the pen is in your hand. How it all ends is up to you. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
| A．To help the readers to live a good life. |
| B．To encourage the readers to write their own stories. |
| C．To advise parents to tell the fairy tale to their kids. |
| D．To describe the difficulties in today’s education. |
Which of the following may NOT often appear in the fairy tale?
| A．Glass slipper. | B．Winding roads. |
| C．Sad ending. | D．Bad witches. |
According to the fires paragraph, we know the woman is ________.
| A．wise | B．cruel | C．brave | D．stupid |
Why does the author mention the question in Paragraph 3?
| A．To express the doubt to life |
| B．To compare different ideas. |
| C．To introduce a point for discussion. |
| D．To describe the conditions in life. |
Fencing or Not
Wildlife fences are constructed for a variety of reasons including to prevent the spread of diseases, to protect wildlife from poachers(偷猎者), and to help manage small populations of threatened species. Human-wildlife conflict is another common reason for building fences. Wildlife can damage valuable farm animals and crops. Some species carry diseases of agricultural concern, and a few threaten human lives. At the same time, people kill wild animals for food, trade, or to defend lives or property, and human activities destroy wildlife habitat(栖息地). Separating people and wildlife by fencing can appear to be a mutually beneficial way to avoid such harmful effects. But in a paper in the journal Science, published recently, some scientists argue that fencing should only be used if worse comes to worst.
According to the scientists, although fencing can have conservation benefits, it also has costs. When areas of wildlife habitat are changed into islands, the resulting small and isolated populations tend towards extinction, and the resulting loss of larger-bodied species can affect interactions between species in ways that cause further local extinctions. Therefore, scientists are asking that conservationists carefully weigh up the biodiversity costs and benefits of new and existing fences.
In addition to fences’ ecosystem-wide impact, the scientists don’t think they always achieve their specific aims. Construction of fences to reduce human-wildlife conflict has been successful in some places but the challenges of appropriate fence design, location, construction, and protection mean that fences often fail to deliver the anticipated benefits. In some places, fences also provide poachers with a ready supply of wire for making traps.
A variety of alternative approaches, including better caring for farm animals, community-based crop-guarding, insurance and wildlife-sensitive land-use planning are suggested to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife without the need for fencing. Some projects working with local people and government agencies in Indonesia have shown that human-elephant conflict can be dramatically reduced without using fences.
The scientists conclude that as climate change increases the importance of facilitating wildlife mobility and conserving landscape connectivity, fence removal may become an important form of climate change preparation, and so fencing of wildlife should be avoided whenever possible.What does the underlined word “mutually” in Paragraph 1 probably mean________?
| A．Indeed. | B．Outdoors. | C．Straight. | D．Both. |
According to the scientists, what will fencing influence______?
| A．Land building. |
| B．Species diversity. |
| C．Human population. |
| D．Wildlife’s body size. |
What is mainly discussed in Paragraph 4_______?
| A．Replacements for fences. |
| B．Wildlife-protection methods. |
| C．Effective land-use approaches. |
| D．Conflicts between human and wildlife |
The main purpose of the passage is to ________.
| A．argue and prove |
| B．inform and explain |
| C．appeal and discuss |
| D．compare and assess |
“Oh, my God! Did I really just send that text?” Most people have said something that they wish they could take back. And if they had paused to think about it first, they probably would have acted differently. Pausing doesn’t pay off just when you speak. Scientific studies have shown that making a habit of pausing before you do something can actually have a big impact on how your life turns out.
In making decisions we rely on two areas of the brain. One area creates and processes emotions; the other governs logical thought. The type of decision, how we feel about it, and how prepared we are to handle it help determine which brain area has the most influence.
But our age also plays an important role. Thinking through the consequences of one’s actions is actually harder for teens because the area controlling logical thought is not fully developed until around age 25. This is why teens often feel an intense emotional drive to act impulsively--it’s how their brains are structured! Though this tendency to act without considering the outcomes can lead to problematic situations, impulsivity during the developmental years evolves because it makes teens more open to new experiences and ideas. This openness helps teens become independent adults.
The key to making impulsivity work for you--instead of against you--is to train your brain by practicing pausing. This doesn’t mean you stop taking risks or being open to new experiences. But you won’t know if the risk is worth it until you think it through. Deciding to take a risk based on logic shows self-control, not impulsivity.
What are different ways to pause? You might take a deep breath, count to 10, or ask, “Is this worth it?” Different strategies work for different people. Whatever works for you, keep doing it! By practicing pausing, you can actually change your brain. This means that over time, pausing, instead of immediately reacting, becomes your “natural” response. And with this change, people are on their way to enjoying the life rewards that come with high levels of self-control--even if they weren’t natural--born pausers!What challenges teenagers________?
| A．Giving natural response. |
| B．Making logical decision. |
| C．Acting before thorough thinking. |
| D．Choosing brain-training strategies. |
An impulsive person tends to __________.
| A．think through a risk in advance |
| B．show high level of self-control |
| C．consider or accept new ideas |
| D．change ideas frequently |
According to the passage, by training one’s brain, one can __________.
| A．stop taking risks |
| B．fully develop one’s brain |
| C．become more open to new experience |
| D．reduce the influence of emotional drive |
What is the best title for the passage________?
| A．Discover the Brain Function |
| B．Crying Over the Spilt Milk |
| C．Push the Pause Button |
| D．Impulsivity Works |
Hockerill’s Suggestion
Caught between the rising cost of university tuition in England and the falling percentage of applicants offered places, one British school is giving its students some surprising advice.
By any measure HockerilI is one of the most successful schools in Britain. Named last month as one of the government’s flagship academies, its students regularly come at or near the top of exam results for the entire country, outperforming such famous names as Eton or Harrow. But unlike those private schools, where fees can exceed ￡28, 000 or ￡45, 000 a year, Hockerill, in the Hertfordshire town, is a state comprehensive, which charges no tuition fees and is forbidden from selecting its students on the basis of academic ability. And while a third of Hockerill’s 830 students are boarders, they are chosen on the basis of need rather than ability to pay.
So when the school’s principal heard of government plans to raise university tuition fees in England to ￡9, 000 a year, he decided to make use of the school’s international focus. urging his students to apply to universities abroad and hiring a counselor（顾问） to help the students who want to apply to universities in countries whose fees are cheaper. “If you can get into a university in France and pay about ￡180 a year for an education at one of the best institutions in the world, why would you pay ￡9, 000 a year in Britain?” the principal asked.
Pupils at Hockerill are offered a choice of seven foreign languages: French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese or Mandarin. History and geography classes are taught exclusively in French or German. But with English rapidly becoming the international language of education, even less linguistically flexible students soon find that going abroad can save them money while enhancing the quality of their education.
“Our students can get to Maastricht in Holland by train more quickly than they can get to Lees from London,” the principal said. Just over the border from Germany and Belgium, Maastricht University offers a highly regarded undergraduate program taught in English. Tuition fees are about ￡1, 430, a year. Germany and France offer even greater savings.What is Hockerill’s suggestion to its students?
| A．Learning foreign languages. |
| B．Picking courses on their basic needs. |
| C．Applying for less famous universities. |
| D．Receiving further education outside of UK. |
We can learn from the passage that Hockerill __________.
| A．admits students based on their academic performance |
| B．provides dormitories to the students in need |
| C．collects less money than private schools |
| D．hires counselors for every student |
What’s Hockerill’s principle’s attitude towards government’s tuition plan?
| A．Neutral. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Negative. |
Students choosing Maastricht in Holland will benefit from the followings EXCEPT_________.
| A．education quality |
| B．convenient location |
| C．flexible program plans |
| D．lessons taught in English |
A Special Halloween Party
Ever since its opening, “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party” has been the center of attraction for thousands of Disney vacationers during Halloween in Orlando. Started as a special one night event in 1995, this Halloween event at Disney World has been transformed and developed into one of the most family-fun events today, and runs throughout selected nights in September, October and November.
“Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party” guarantees a unique Halloween experience right in the middle of the most magical place on Earth. Whether it’s you or the kids, “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party” welcomes all with equal fun and entertainment opportunities. Visiting this special Halloween party once in your life is a dream that comes true. Even though it costs you a few extra dollars, there is every reason to visit it.
It starts at 7 pm on every selected night and continues till midnight. During the show the entire Magic Kingdom Park is transformed into a heaven of Halloween adventures, including amazing fireworks, grand parade, and plenty of trick-or-treat opportunities. One of the most striking features of the event is--guests are allowed to visit in their favorite Halloween costumes（服装）. Unlike the usual party guidelines, there is no restriction for dresses at “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party”. Both adults and kids are encouraged to choose their favourite Halloween costumes.
The Party unfolds amazing Halloween activities. If you are a character lover, don’t miss the various “Character Meet& Greet” opportunities. Let your child take photos with his or her famous Disney characters. Or you can have a magical trick-or-treat experience at the numerous candy locations all over the park with the kids. Also don’t miss the unique “Mickey’s Boo to You Halloween Parade”, which is one of the rarest, must-see Disney shows. The parade also enables you to see all your favorite Disney characters in their own Halloween costumes. The skeleton（骨架） dancers make the Parade a little scary too, but it’s a great fun. The “Hallo Wishes Firework Display” is another grand show, which lasted for about 20 minutes and one should not miss at the party.“Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party” __________.
| A．is an event intended for all ages |
| B．attracts more tourists than usual |
| C．is usually held on Halloween night |
| D．lasts longer than regular Disney parties |
Tourists to “Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party” need to ___________.
| A．wear Halloween costumes |
| B．prepare trick-or-treat candies |
| C．go to the party with their families |
| D．pay more for admission than regular days |
In “Mickey’s Boo to You Halloween Parade”, tourists will be able to ___________.
| A．see holiday symbols |
| B．watch grand firework |
| C．frighten each other for fun |
| D．take photos with Disney characters |
With only about 1 000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone the animal and save the endangered species . That’s a move similar to what a Texas A&M University researchers have been undertaking for the past five years in a project called “Noah’s Ark”.
Noah’s Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos , semen and DNA of endangered animals and storing them in liquid nitrogen. If certain species should become extinct, Dr. Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A &M’s College of Vetreinary Medicine, says there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future.
It is estimated that as many as 2 000 species of mammals, birds and reptiles will be come extinct in over 100 years. The panda, native only to China, is in danger of becoming extinct in the next 25 years.
This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit. They are now trying to implant the embryo into a host animal.
The entire procedure could take from three to five years to complete.
“The nuclear transfer of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available (capable of being used) panda eggs could be a major problem,” Kraemer believes. “They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result in one pregnancy (having a baby). It takes a long time and it’s difficult, but this could be groundbreaking science if it works. They are certainly not putting any live pandas at risk, so it is worth the effort,” adds Kraemer, who is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A&M, the first ever attempt at cloning a dog.
“They are trying to do something that’s never been done, and this is very similar to our work in Noah’s Ark. We’re both trying to save animals that face extinction. I certainly appreciate their effort and there’s a lot we can learn from what they are attempting to do. It’s a research that is very much needed.”The aim of “Noah’s Ark” project is to _____.
| A．make efforts to clone the endangered pandas |
| B．save endangered animals from dying out |
| C．collect DNA of endangered animals to study |
| D．transfer the nuclear of one animal to another |
According to Professor Kraemer, the major problem in cloning pandas would be the lack of _____.
| A．available panda eggs | B．host animals |
| C．qualified researchers | D．enough money |
The best title for the passage may be _____.
| A．China’s Success in Pandas Cloning |
| B．The First Cloned Panda in the World |
| C．Exploring the Possibility to Clone Pandas |
| D．China—the Native Place of Pandas Forever |
From the passage we know that _____.
| A．Kraemer and his team have succeeded in cloning a dog |
| B．scientists try to implant a panda’s egg into a rabbit |
| C．Kraemer will work with Chinese scientists in clone researches |
| D．about two thousand species will probably die out in a century |