“Your first home,” Laurence Yep wrote in his book, The Lost Garden, “will always be the one that you remember best. I have been away from it for over twenty years, but I still go back in my dreams.” For Yep, whose father came from China, home was an apartment and the family grocery store in a neighborhood of San Francisco. It was there that he learned about patience, hard work, and getting along with neighbors.
Mr. Brown, Laurence Yep’s high school English teacher, often set high goals for his students. He was the first person to encourage Yep to write. The experience of that class changed the direction of Yep’s life. At the age of 18 Yep published his first short story, a sci-fi fantasy. He has since written many books and many kinds of books. He has retold Chinese folk stories and written for the theater. In nearly all these varied works, Yep, who is married to the children’s book author Joanne Ryder, has returned to questions he has been asking himself since childhood: What does it mean to be Chinese and American? Can one who belongs to two cultures ever feel at home anywhere?
When asked, “How has being of a Chinese by origin been important to you?” Laurence Yep replied, “As a child I wanted to be as American as possible. Then, in my early twenties, I became very interested in my Chinese roots. For years after that, I thought that my function as a Chinese American writer was to act as a bridge between two cultures. Now, though, I am not so sure that it is possible to join them together. Compared with Asian culture, American culture pays more attention to individuals and competition. The two cultures pull in opposite directions. So I see myself now as someone who will always be on the border between two cultures. That works to my benefit as a writer because not quite fitting in helps me be a better observer.”According to Paragraph 1, Laurence Yep _____.
| A．misses his first home very much |
| B．goes back to China from time to time |
| C．moved to San Francisco at an early age |
| D．once worked part-time at a grocery store |
2We may infer from Paragraph 2 that Mr. Brown _____.
| A．asked Laurence Yep to be a good observer |
| B．taught Laurence Yep the value of patience |
| C．helped Laurence Yep finish his first book |
| D．had high expectations of Laurence Yep |
The last paragraph is mainly about Laurence Yep’s _____.
| A．childhood memories |
| B．varied writing styles |
| C．view of the two cultures |
| D．relationship with his family |
Which of the following best describes Laurence Yep’s attitude to life?
| A．Learn to accept your own differences. |
| B．Put the needs of others ahead of your own. |
| C．Work hard and you will receive many benefits. |
| D．Challenge others as you would wish to be challenged. |
MIANYANG—At a corner of the city’s Jiuzhou Stadium, one of the biggest camps set up for those left homeless in the earthquake, 62-year-old Liu Yaorong was leaning against a window on Thursday.
Pointing to a quilt and clothes he received from the local government, he said: “These are all I have. My home collapsed in the quake, and everything in the town was flooded.”
He used to live in Xuanping town of Beichuan county which was destroyed by the quake. Adding to his misery, rivers blocked by landslides(山崩) led to flooding in the town.
But Liu said he was lucky because he was healthy, otherwise he would not have the energy to walk 10 hours on damaged and dangerous mountainous roads to escape the flood on Monday. He said the trip used to take him about 90 minutes when the roads were in good condition.
The journey was difficult and “rocks kept falling,” he said, showing injured legs and black, split toenails.
Liu said his three sons were working in eastern cities as migrant workers.
“I’ve been living alone in the mountains for more than 20 years. My wife died 30 years ago,” he said in a low voice.
During his journey to Mianyang, Liu said he saw many elderly people who chose to stay.
“Soldiers were persuading them to leave for fear of floods,” he said.
Talking about his home before the quake struck, Liu’s mood lifted. “I raised pigs and chickens, and grew vegetables. I could have rice, meat and greens almost every day,” he said.
“But now, I have only biscuits and instant noodles.”
Liu said one of his sons returned home from Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, after the quake, but left because the father refused to go with him.
“I don’t want to leave home. And I know it is difficult for them out there. How could I add to their burden?” he asked, his eyes red.
“I still want to go back to my home. Given a small piece of land, I could live by myself.”
It is learnt that resettlement plans for displaced people have not been finalized.
However, not every elderly person is as strong-willed as Liu.
Psychologists said the elderly need as much comfort as children. Lu Jianguo, a psychologist from Chengdu Medical College, said “We will first let them cry and tell their stories, and then help them regain confidence.”Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Liu Yaorong spent 8.5 hours more than usual covering the roads in escaping the flood. |
| B．The flood was followed by an earthquake in Xuanping in the same day. |
| C．Liu Yaorong was in time to escape the quake without being hurt. |
| D．Being healthy, Liu Yaorong was the only old man to escape the flood. |
The underlined word “ misery ”in the third paragraph most probably means “”.
| A．happiness | B．fortune | C．puzzle | D．suffering |
What’s Liu Yaorong’s attitude towards self-relief after the earthquake?
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Aggressive. | D．Dependent. |
What would be the best title for the news report?
| A．Elderly react more quickly to flood disaster |
| B．Elderly try hard to deal with quake disaster |
| C．Elderly prefer to stay at their own home |
| D．Elderly are well cared for by government |
Rafting the GRAND CANYON Welcomes You!
If you are looking for an exciting, fun and challenging white water tour, Rafting(筏运) the GRAND CANYON is here to help you plan the right tour for you. Whether you want to travel for two days or ten, hike in or not, go on an oar(船桨) boat or motorboat, through Class 3 or 6 water, we will help you find the trip that meets your needs.
For those who will be vacationing in the off-season, a rafting trip on the Native American Red River is available or a one-day trip is available on the Colorado River from Diamond Creek to Pierce Ferry.
Most of the trips depart from Lees Ferry, Arizona. We offer partial trips which allow you to get on or off at Phantom Ranch located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim. You can have a hike, and with proper planning the mule(骡子) ride up or down is also an option. Most trips occur between April and October.
Since all rafting on the Colorado requires a permit, planning and reserving your trip requires reservations well in advance. Please let us know when you would like to go and we will contact all the river concessionaires(特许权获得者) to help you find the best trip for you.
To talk to us or to make a reservation, call us toll free:
1-800-222-6966
or 702-655-6060
If you have any questions regarding a trip, please CLICK HERE to fill out our form. This will speed up the process of getting you accurate information regarding that trip.
If you would like to send us an email about something other than an upcoming trip you can contact us at info@raftingthegrandcanyon.com.
We look forward to helping you plan your trip!
(Please NO Travel Agents.)If you want to enjoy rafting, you can travel .
| A．both in the off-season and the busy season |
| B．only in the off-season |
| C．only in the busy season |
| D．only between April and October |
All the following activities are recommended EXCEPT .
| A．hiking | B．swimming | C．rowing a boat | D．animal riding |
Which of the following is most likely to be a customer of Rafting the Grand Canyon?
| A．Travel agents. |
| B．River concessionaires. |
| C．A couple who are planning their honeymoon. |
| D．An athlete who wants to have a rest after an injury. |
It is reasonable to say that every teenager can be affected by peer pressure (从众心理) at some point. Every day, in any high school, peer pressure has a major influence over the behavior of teenagers. It can be as subtle (微妙的) as being persuaded to be late for class or as extreme as a dangerous drug. Whether subtle or extreme, peer pressure can have damaging, sometimes life changing, and even serious results.
“Teens don’t often consider the long-term results that some behavior can cause,” said Terri Price, a researcher. “Peer pressure can be very difficult to handle for many teens because of their fears of not fitting in”. Peer pressure has always been part of teen life, but teens experience it differently than their former generations did in the past. Sources of peer pressure have increased because of the Internet and other electronic communications.
Recognizing peer pressure can be as simple as noticing that you have been asked to do something that you are not comfortable with. “Listen to your instinct （直觉） , which is a sign for whether something is right or wrong. If it feels wrong, then most likely it is. ”says Price.
Teens are in a time of life when they are still discovering who they are. Many teens are influenced by peer pressure because of their insecurities (不安全感). This can make them helpless especially when their self-control is weak or they lack healthy support, causing them to take risky behavior or turn to unhealthy support.
Dealing with peer pressure is a topic of concern for teens. People can say, “Just say no,” but the truth is that the statement is easier said than done.The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refers to .
| A．the Internet | B．teen life |
| C．peer pressure | D．the fear of not fitting in |
You can know whether a teen suffers peer pressure by watching .
| A．whether he often surfs the Internet | B．whether he can get security |
| C．whether it is subtle or extreme | D．whether he feels comfortable with it |
Why are teens easily influenced by peer pressure?
| A．Because they don’t have the feeling of safety. |
| B．Because they are afraid of fitting in or being accepted. |
| C．Because they need support for their health. |
| D．Because they have nobody to turn to when in trouble. |
According to the passage, we can know that dealing with peer pressure is
| A．easy | B．hard | C．a new topic | D．an impossible task |
Think about what you had for lunch: Was it a hamburger? A chicken sandwich? Barbecue? What about vegetables? Would it surprise you to learn that what you eat can affect the whole planet?
It can—in a big way. New studies show how food and its production affect the globe and its warming climate. You’ve probably heard of global warming : The temperature is on the rise because humankind has been releasing (排放) amounts of gases into the atmosphere. One of these greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide（二氧化碳）.
What does this have to do with food ? A big part of the carbon dioxide that we put in the atmosphere every year comes from the process of making and eating food. The production of meat contributes a lot of that carbon diode. And much of meat’s contribution comes from beef , which is responsible for releasing even more warming gases into the atmosphere.
The process of making a hamburger ,for example, requires a lot of energy. A cow has to be fed and raised on farmland, and cow waste is a major source of methane (沼气) — an especially powerful greenhouse gas. The cow has to be killed. The meat has to be processed (加工) and shipped to a shop, which takes fuel . Most of the cow won’t even be used for meat that people eat. By the time a hamburger finally lands on a dinner plate, it has made a heavy effect on the environment.
We can reduce the production of global-warming gases by eating less beef .Other kinds of meat like pork and chicken do less harm to the environment—at least in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases released.
All kinds of meat are harder on the planet than vegetables. To grow and eat a pound of potatoes, for example, sends less than one-quarter pound of carbon dioxide into the air. So changing our diet to less meat and more vegetables, as it turns out, may do the world some good.The questions asked in the first paragraph are used to _____.
| A．show the author’s concern about food safety |
| B．express the author’s puzzlement at what to eat |
| C．remind readers of something delicious to eat |
| D．introduce the topic to be discussed in the passage |
What is the bad news for meat-eaters?
| A．Meat producing can cause global warming |
| B．Most cows are raised not for people to eat |
| C．There is a lot of carbon dioxide in meat |
| D．Animals begin to die off because of global warming |
Which is the most environment-friendly food according to the passage?
| A．Beef | B．Carrot | C．Pork | D．Chicken |
The author wrote the passage in order to _____.
| A．explain the importance of eating meat | B．advise people to keep a balanced diet |
| C．encourage people to choose a greener diet | D．introduce some healthy foods to people |
As a music teacher for twenty-seven years, I have always known that music touches the soul. It can break through all kinds of barriers(障碍) to reach students in a very special way. It can be the means for each child to find their light.
A few years ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to teach pre-school students one afternoon a week. One of my most memorable students was Vanessa. She was five years old, had difficulty walking, and could not speak. We mostly sat on the floor for our music lessons and Vanessa liked to sit on my lap. One of her favorite songs was John the Rabbit. It was a call and response song where I sang the call and the students clapped two times while singing the repeating phrase, “Oh, yes!” Vanessa liked to put her hands together with mine and clap with me. We performed that song during every class, Vanessa and I clapping together. She never said or sang a word.
One day late in the school year, when the song was finished, Vanessa turned around, looked me in the eye, clapped her tiny hands two times and said the words “Oh, yes!” I opened my mouth and could not speak. Through music, we had made a connection.
Several years later, I came across Vanessa on the street in town. I stopped my car and waved to say hello. She waved back with a big smile on her face and then clapped her hands two times, mimicking(模仿) the song we had performed in our music class. This precious little girl, through her connection with music, left an impression on me that will last forever.
Every child has the ability to learn and grow. It is up to us educators to discover the way to reach each and every one of our students. We all must find each child’s light.The author thinks music________.
| A．can make children calm down | B．can connect heart to heart |
| C．is difficult for pre-school students | D．is a good means to find a job |
According to the second paragraph, Vanessa________.
| A．got used to singing songs | B．was too shy to speak |
| C．was the youngest in the class | D．enjoyed the author’s classes |
When Vanessa spoke the words “Oh, yes!”, the author felt________.
| A．surprised | B．happy | C．frightened | D．satisfied |
What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?
| A．The author has been in touch with Vanessa for several years. |
| B．Vanessa became as healthy as other children. |
| C．The song made a deep impression on Vanessa. |
| D．Being a good educator became Vanessa’s dream. |