A shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world．The boy walked a long way, and finally came upon the beautiful castle where the wise man lived.
On entering the main room of the castle, the boy was quite surprised: tradesmen coming and going, people chatting in the corners, and a small orchestra playing soft music．The wise man talked with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn.
The wise man listened carefully to the boy’s explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn’t have time just then to explain the secret of happiness．He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours.
“Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something,” said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil．“As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill.”
The boy began to walk up and down stairs of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon．After two hours, he returned to the wise man.
“Well,” asked the wise man, “Did you see the Persian tapestries（挂毯）in the hall? Did you see the garden that took the master gardener ten years to create?” The boy was embarrassed, and replied that he had observed nothing．His only concern had been not to spill the oil.
“Then go back and observe the wonders of my world,” said the wise man．The boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace．This time he observed all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls．When he returned, he described in detail everything he had seen．
“But where are the drops of oil?” asked the wise man．Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.
“Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you,” said the wise man．“The secret of happiness is to see all the wonders of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.”
When the boy arrived at the castle, he .
| A．received a warm welcome from the wise man |
| B．had already missed his chance to talk to the wise man |
| C．was shown around the palace by the local people |
| D．didn’t expect to see so many people around |
The wise man gave the boy two tasks in order to .
| A．show him how to observe the wonders in the world |
| B．teach him the secret of happiness |
| C．make him learn from his mistakes |
| D．let the boy enjoy his palace and garden |
We can infer from the article that “the drops of the oil on the spoon” probably refer to .
| A．the beauty of one’s nature |
| B．the fortune a person possesses |
| C．the responsibilities one has to take on |
| D．the great opportunities in life |
What would be the best title for the article?
| A．Lesson about Happiness |
| B．The Secret of Happiness |
| C．Learning about Happiness |
| D．Searching for Happiness |
I used to have a friend that was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and the news that he might only live up to six months was a great shock to him, his family, and his friends．However, in spite of the serious illness, he was initially determined to look into all available treatments that might cure or extend his life．I think that when you find yourself in such situations, you tend to look up every possible way for hope of saving your life．
With months going on and his health grew worse, I noticed an unexpected change in attitude that came over him．He had also been a happy person with a cheerful personality, but rather than give in to discouragement and self-pity, he took comfort in God and humanity．His talks focused on others rather than himself, and he spoke of the afterlife as something he was prepared for, believing that his concerned ancestors, including his mother and father, were there waiting for him．
In the last few months, weeks, and days of his life, he was kindly cared for by family, friends, his loving wife, who looked after both his physical and emotional needs, and workers from a local hospice （安养院） came to the home to regulate his medication and provide any other needed support．He didn't complain about his fate, and he willingly allowed others to serve him．Indeed, one might think why God allows death and suffering in our world, but for me, such experiences taught me to value family more and kindness for others．You often can't learn these important attributes in the lap of luxury, and perhaps, such an experience is the greatest and final gift the illness can give those left behind．Which word can best describe the man's initial reaction as soon as he was diagnosed with cancer?
| A．Astonished． | B．Annoyed |
| C．Terrified． | D．Confused． |
What did the man do after he first learned of his illness?
| A．He was operated on immediately． |
| B．He researched cancer treatments． |
| C．He retired from his job． |
| D．He felt sad, doing nothing． |
What was the man's main source of comfort after several months with the disease?
| A．His family and friends． |
| B．The care from others． |
| C．His doctors’ encouragement． |
| D．His belief in humanity． |
In my eyes, the most basic and powerful way to communicate with another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. And especially if it’s given from the heart. When people are talking，there’s no need to do anything but receive them. Listen to what they’re saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it. Most of us don’t value ourselves or our love enough to know this. It has taken me a long time to believe in the power of simple saying “I’m so sorry，” when someone is in pain.
One of my patients told me that when she tried to tell her story people often interrupted to tell her that they once had something just like that happening to them. Her pain became a story about themselves. Eventually she stopped talking to most people. We connect through listening. When we interrupt what someone is saying to let them know that we understand，we move the focus of attention to ourselves. When we listen，they know we care.
I have even learned to respond to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the handkerchiefs，until I realized that passing a person a handkerchief may be just another way to shut him down，to take them out of their experience of sadness. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry，they find me there with them.
This simple thing has not been that easy to learn. It certainly went against everything I had been taught since I was very young. I thought people listened only because they were too shy to speak or did not know the answer. But now I know that a loving silence often has far more power to heal than the kindest words.
What does the author value most in the communication with each other?
| A．Deep understanding. |
| B．Attention from heart. |
| C．Saying “I’m sorry” |
| D．Doing nothing. |
The woman patient stopped telling her story to most people because________.
| A．she didn’t get enough respect from others |
| B．people often told her their own opinions |
| C．people couldn’t understand her sad situation |
| D．she was discouraged by being often interrupted |
If you hand a handkerchief to someone crying，you may________.
| A．stop him from letting out his sorrow |
| B．make him embarrassed |
| C．encourage him to continue to cry |
| D．hurt his feelings |
Which of the following might be the author’s opinion about communication?
| A．Just listen. | B．Keep silent. |
| C．Be careful. | D．Tell your own story. |
“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. |
Like lots of other girls and boys，when Lisa Cao was a kid，she used to watch the Olympics. “I always wanted to be good at sport and I found athletic potential in my body”， the New York City citizen tells her friends. But there was no sport available so she took up piano lessons. Then，at the age of 15，she decided to drop the lessons and put her athletic potential to the test with running. At age 18，Lisa Cao ran her first-ever marathon in New York City. And now，the 27-year-old has 54 marathons (26. miles) and ultramarathons (100miles) under her belt.
What does it take to be an ultramarathoner? A lot of devotion，even when difficulties occur sometimes. “Making time for running is really hard when life is so busy，” she says. “There’s a big work-life balance that I have to keep. I have to wake up earlier on the weekends. And oh，the potential for excuses! With NYC’s wild winters as of late，it’s easy to blame the weather，roll over in bed and put off a solid run. I have a fix for this，though，” she says. “Cute clothes. With the horrible weather， I bought cute clothes as motivation to run and actually wear them. ”
While she’s training during low season in the winter，Lisa Cao tries to run a “base” of 20 to 30 miles per week to stay prepared. During high season in the spring and summer，she’ll run around 30 to 40 miles，but she also gets a lot of quality miles from her races.
When did Lisa Cao run her first marathon?
| A．At the age of 27. |
| B．When she was 15 years old. |
| C．Three years after she began running. |
| D．Nine years after she dropped her piano lessons. |
What made Lisa Cao have the desire of joining in sports?
| A．Being different from other kids of her age. |
| B．Wanting to join in the Olympics. |
| C．Having no interest in piano lessons. |
| D．Having athletic potential. |
Why does Lisa Cao buy beautiful clothes in terrible weather?
| A．To have a better sleep. |
| B．To motivate herself to keep running. |
| C．To protect herself from any harm. |
| D．To save time for further training. |
Where is the text probably taken from?
| A．A sport website |
| B．A science book. |
| C．A college poster |
| D．A football magazine. |
What Is Self-tracking All about
Have you ever monitored something about yourself? Perhaps you’ve tracked how many kilometers you’ve run, how many hours you’ve slept or how many calories you’ve eaten in a day.
If so, you’ve taken part in a movement called the “Quantified Self Movement.” Individuals gather information about their daily activities in this popular movement, also called self-tracking. This may sound difficult, but technology is making the process easier.
Perhaps you’ve wanted to change a bad habit but couldn’t. Self-tracking may be your answer. The idea is to take information about your everyday activities and analyze them to help form a healthier lifestyle.
Recently, tools such as smartphones, journals and apps, along with newly published wearable things, are making self-tracking extremely easy. Today, one can use Fitbit, the Jawbone Up, Google Glass or a smart watch to record personal data including sleeping hours, stress levels, heart rate and mood.
So why does a person self-track? Someone may be trying to lose weight or improve their sleep patterns. Another person feels tired after eating. Self-tracking could help him to know what foods make him sleepy and watch his diet.
Monitoring daily activities isn’t a new concept. In years past, athletes and their coaches kept notes detailing nutrition, training and sleep patterns in order to achieve an athletic goal. Similarly, doctors have also helped patients to record parts of their lifestyles and eating habits to help fight allergies, headaches and other health problems. However, it wasn’t until 2007 that magazine editors Gary Wolf and Kim Kelly, who started tracking every move they made, coined the term “Quantified Self.” Wolf says that the new tools will change our sense of self with the purpose of making us more effective in the world.
Although self-tracking has many advantages, Dennis Nash, president of Data Speaks Health Solutions, says self-tracking has its drawbacks. Once people start tracking their daily activities, it can become an addition people like to do often. Also, they might begin to worry too much about their health.
While self-tracking doesn’t guarantee that one’s quality of life will improve, it can highlight the importance of eating well and exercising daily. After all, the Quantified Self Movement’s focus is motivating people to apply enough energy to make healthier choices.People choose self-tracking because _______.
| A．it collects personal data and leads to self-improvements |
| B．it records how many hours you sleep a day |
| C．it watches your eating habits |
| D．it increases your movement |
The writer mentions tools such as smartphones and apps in Paragraph 4 to show _______.
| A．we depend too much on them |
| B．it is easier to do self-tracking |
| C．they do harm to people’s health |
| D．equipment is necessary to do self-tracking |
Self-tracking was firstly put forward by _______.
| A．scientists of Data Speaks Health Solutions |
| B．athletes and their coaches |
| C．doctors and their patients |
| D．two magazine editors |
You can find this article in the part of _______.
| A．Education | B．Entertainment | C．Health | D．News |
Papa’s Straw Hat
Papa was a ranger. He worked with horses. He always wore clean clothes with a hat even when he worked. His hat was always the same kind of a cowboy hat- large black hat of heavy wool. He wore his hat full and high. I think he wanted to look taller than he really was.
Mama was proud of the way he looked when he wore his hat and his best clothes. But in some way she got the idea that papa would lose his hair if he kept wearing a heavy wool cowboy hat in the hot weather. She began to talk about his hats.
“Papa,” she said one day, “why don't you get a nice cool straw hat? That heavy wool cowboy hat may cause losing hair!” Papa laughed at her and explained that the horses wouldn’t recognize him if he changed the hat. But she didn’t believe him.
Mama talked and talked about the hat all summer long. At last papa answered, a little angry, “It would not the cowboy hat but a wife’s talking about the hat that makes me lose my hair.”
Mama had a very serious look on her face. She went straight out and later came home with a straw hat. It was a bad year for ranger and we didn't have much money. She thought that if she spent the money for a straw hat, papa would wear it. When papa saw the hat, his face got red. Without a word, he pulled the straw hat down over his head until it hid his eyes and went on to train the horses.
He was a good ranger and gentle to his horses. But as papa got close to the horses this time, they jumped high into the air, raising their front feet. All of them ran around in the rounded field and then raced toward the barn. Papa began to shout “Woo boys. Steady boys, steady.” But there was nothing equal to.
Papa walked back straight to the stove in the kitchen, pushed the straw hat deep down into the fire then turned to mama, in a way that even frightened me. “Now listen to me, mama. Understand this I will never wear a straw hat or any other kind of hat my horses do not like.” Then he put on his wool cowboy hat and walked out of the house.
I never heard mama talk any more about hats. Perhaps, that is why when papa died many years later, there was a round spot on the top of his head where there was no hair.According to the passage, a ranger is _______.
| A．a person wearing a woolen hat |
| B．a position requiring clean clothes |
| C．a person training horses for some purpose |
| D．a person riding a carriage with horses |
Mama bought papa a straw hat because _______.
| A．most cowboys preferred to wear it |
| B．she was worried about his health |
| C．a woolen one didn’t suit papa |
| D．it was cheap and she could save money |
What quality can we learn from papa?
| A．Gentle. | B．Patient. | C．Committed. | D．Modest. |
It can be learned from the story that _______.
| A．this family were not rich but diligent |
| B．papa didn’t love the straw hat and mama |
| C．protecting hair was very important |
| D．a cowboy hat was useful on farming |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
Tips for Getting the Most out of a “Photo walk”
Photo walks are a great way to get out and get clicking, either by yourself, with a couple of friends, or with a group of people. They can be wonderful for seeing a neighborhood or wild space with new eyes, getting inspired to be more creative with angles and subjects, as well as simply spending time with fun people. Here are a few tips for making sure you get the most out of a photo walk.
Pick a spot with lots of interest
A photo walk is a perfect excuse to go exploring a new area. However, if you’ve never been to the scene before, you might be disappointed at the final photos. Base your chosen spot on what you feel like photographing---whether that is buildings, people, busy streets, a festival, nature and so on, and make sure the place you’re heading for is filled with what you most want to shoot. It will pay off in a satisfying walk if you research your chosen spot beforehand and know what to expect.
Invite anyone, no matter what their skill level is
You’ll be surprised at what you learn from people who seem to know nothing about photography. Even with a simple camera, they can catch some outstanding photos. So bring Aunt Betty or your 10-year-old nephew or anyone else whose company you might enjoy on a walk and keep an open mind.
Don’t forget them
Be sure to take the important small things, such as an extra memory card (or two), an extra fully charged battery, comfortable shoes and clothing. And remember a notepad and pen for taking down notes about places, times, conditions, the names and information of people you meet and any other information you might want to remember about certain shots.
Keep an eye out for danger
Apart from watching the sky for rain, you’ll want to watch out for other people as well. Smartphones are always a target for thieves but they have become much clearer about the value of digital cameras. Don’t make yourself a target by standing for a very long time holding your camera out in front of you. If you’re in an area that is really busy or you aren’t super comfortable, then just be careful about when to use your camera. Imagine your shot in your head before holding up your camera, or use a camera belt wrapped around your wrist or shoulder.To choose a place for a photo walk, you are suggested to _______.
| A．spend time discussing with fun people |
| B．decide the place on your interest |
| C．choose famous places |
| D．find a new area |
The people you go photo walking with _______.
| A．must know the area well |
| B．have learned photography |
| C．would like to explore the places for you |
| D．enjoy walking with you and keep an open mind |
You are supposed to hold the camera around your wrist or shoulder in case _______.
| A．it is stolen by a thief |
| B．it gets wet in the rain |
| C．it loses some information |
| D．it falls down on the ground |
That woman carried a new blanket over her arm. Wordlessly, she gave it to me.
“Is it finished?” I asked.
She shook her head. “No. It is ready,” she replied. I handed her the money and took the blanket.
“It is beautiful, so skillfully woven(编织），” I said to my mother. “But what did she mean when she said it was not finished? How can it be ready if it is not finished?”
“I will tell you later,” my mother said, “but first I will take you to the Navajo village.”
We went down to the village. A group of young men were making sand pictures. We walked through the whole village, watching the different things the people were doing.
It was not until that evening that my mother finally explained the Navajo woman’s words.
“Did you notice anything about the things the people were making?” my mother asked.
“What should I have noticed?” I looked at her and asked.
“Each thing the Navajo make has one small part that is not complete. The designs in their sand pictures are often not perfectly done, for example---the line of a circle may not quite close. If you look carefully at your blanket, you will probably find a stitch(一针）missing.”
I took the blanket off, but it looked as perfect as any design could be. Then suddenly, I noticed that sure enough a stitch was missing!
“But why do the Navajo intentionally leave some tiny part unfinished?” I asked.
“They believe that when anything is completed or finished, it means the end has come--it will not be perfect until then. Then too, with a circle, they believe that they must leave a pathway for the bad spirits to run away and the good spirits to come in. So, often, they do not make the line close.”The blanket the author received_____ .
| A．was poorly woven. |
| B．made her think a lot. |
| C．cost her a lot of money. |
| D．was finished, but not ready. |
Why was the author shown around the village?
| A．To buy more things made by the Navajo. |
| B．To make friends with some of the Navajo. |
| C．To have a deeper understanding of the Navajo. |
| D．To look for the woman who sold her the blanket. |
Which of the following may the Navajo believe?
| A．A stitch in time is very important. |
| B．Life only becomes perfect when you die. |
| C．He who makes no mistake is a perfect man. |
| D．You must always try to make your life complete. |
What’s the main idea of the text?
| A．The Navajo are good at making things. |
| B．The Navajo are brave and hard-working. |
| C．A blanket tells a lot about the Navajo culture. |
| D．Skills are needed to do business with the Navajo. |
Dear Jorge,
Are you enjoying your break from school? My family are now in Sacramento, California. We are here paying a visit to visit to my aunt Gloria. We have been to the California State Capital Building, the nature center, and the zoo. I have seen many interesting things, but one stands out above the rest. This morning we drove from my aunt’s home to Calistoga to see California’s Old Faithful Geyser(老忠实泉). I had read about it in my book, Sightseeing in California; Where You Should Go.You have probably heard of Old Faithful, the geyser father north in Yellowstone National Park. This California geyser is sometimes called“ Little Old Faithful.”
When we arrived California’s Old Faithful was only a calm pool of water. The geyser didn’t look very deep. “ What’s the big deal?” I wondered. As I turned, I saw some steam rising from the water. Before I knew it, there was hot water shooting up about 60 feet into the air. We could not believe our eyes! It continued for almost three minutes.
Aunt Gloria told me that the water came from an underground river. She also said that the water temperature was about 95℃. This water can sometimes shoot 170 feet into the air.
My aunt said that other geysers around the world reach hotter temperatures and shoot water even higher than California’s Old Faithful Geyser. I’d love to learn more about this geyser and other geysers in different countries when I get home. I’ll see you soon!
Your friend,
BennettoAccording to the text, Bennetto ___________.
| A．visited his aunt Gloria by himself. |
| B．had never heard of Old Faithful Geyser. |
| C．thought nothing of Old Faithful Geyser at first. |
| D．flew all the way from Sacramento to Calistoga. |
The water Bennetto saw high in the sky _____________.
| A．disappeared at once. | B．was too hot to touch. |
| C．came from a deep sea. | D．was 170 feet in height. |
What was expressed in Bennetto's letter?
| A．Anger | B．Doubt | C．Courage | D．Excitement |
Bennetto wrote the letter mainly to_____________.
| A．talk about his holiday experiences. |
| B．ask Jorge to visit Old Faithful Geyser. |
| C．express his thankfulness to Aunt Gloria. |
| D．give Yellowstone National Park some advice. |
"Have you ever been out on a boat and felt it lifted up by a wave? Or have you jumped in the water and felt the rush of energy as waves came over you.?" asked Jamie Taylor of the Wave Energy Group at the University of Edinburgh. "There is certainly a lot of energy in waves," he said. Scientists are working to use that energy to make electricity. Most waves are created when winds blow across the ocean. "The wind starts out by making little ripples (涟漪), but if they keep on blowing, those ripples get bigger and bigger and turn into waves," Taylor said. "Waves are one of nature's ways of picking up energy and then sending it off on a journey." When waves come toward the shore, people can set up dams to block the water and send it through a large wheel called a turbine (涡轮机). The turbine can then power an electrical generator to produce electricity.
"The resource is huge," said Janet Swain of the World Watch Institute. "We will never run out of wave power." Besides, wave energy does not create the same pollution as other energy sources, such as oil or coal. Oceans cover three-quarters of the Earth's surface---that would make wave power seem ideal for creating energy throughout the world, though there are some weak points yet to overcome.
Swain said that wave power still costs too much money. She also said that its effects on sea animals are still unknown. What is more, wave power could affect fishing and boat traffic. Traditional sources of energy like oil and gas may someday run out. "Demand for energy to power our TVs and computers, drive our cars, and heat and cool our homes is rising rapidly throughout the world," Swain said. In the future when you turn on a light, an ocean wave could be providing the electricity!The underlined phrase "picking up" is closest in meaning to ______.
| A．starting again | B．speeding up |
| C．improving | D．gathering |
We can make better use of wave energy if we ______.
| A．shorten its journey to thousands of homes |
| B．build more small power stations on the oceans |
| C．reduce the cost of turning it into electric power |
| D．quicken the steps of producing electricity |
It can be inferred that some day we might not worry about ______.
| A．our power supply | B．our boat traffic |
| C．air pollution | D．our supply of sea fish |
When I was having a walk through the park today, I met a friend I hadn’t seen for ages. She stared at me curiously. “You have kept this umbrella for years; it's old and out of date. I wonder why you keep it and take it wherever you go.” I smiled, “it means a great deal to me.” I simply gave her my shortest answer. Honestly speaking, I, either, could not understand the reason why I kept it.
Then all of a sudden, fallen leaves darkened my eyes with a strong wind. I grabbed the umbrella instinctively. The rain poured down. Thanks to my umbrella, I didn’t get wet at all.
“Why have I kept it for so long?” I asked myself, staring at my umbrella. I couldn’t remember when and where I bought it, for I’m always tired and lazy to answer questions. It could protect me from the heavy rain, I told myself eventually. Looking at the people rushing through the street, I felt safe. This might be another reason.
It is always so. We know a thunderstorm comes unexpectedly and goes without a warning. The sky cleared up. The sun shone brightly. Just as usual, I seized the umbrella with my left hand. Still there’s water dropping down. I walked among the noisy crowd and listened to what they were murmuring in their heart. “Today I will ask for a rise, or I'll leave this company.” Good luck to you, I smiled to him. “I’ll manage to make you live forever.” A little boy held a pet dog close to him. “She’ll be all right, because she is blessed.” I heard angels singing in this city.
The moment my fingertips touched the umbrella, I felt it’s dry, and it’s warm. Soon it became hot. I held it up to avoid harmful sunshine. Do I need a reason to explain why? Maybe I should think about it. I need my umbrella when it is sunny as well as when it is rainy.Which of the following words best describes the author?
| A．Watchful. | B．Hard-working. |
| C．Clever | D．Strange |
From the author's feelings with people among the noisy crowd, we can see that _____.
| A．he is sensible enough to understand others’ murmur |
| B．he is sorry for people who can’t foresee their difficulties |
| C．he is warm-hearted even to care for unfamiliar people |
| D．he is kind enough to hope everyone will plan their life well |
What’s the most suitable title for the passage?
| A．Try to notice every passer-by. |
| B．Umbrellas are important. |
| C．Always be prepared. |
| D．Weather changes unexpectedly. |
Now many young people are traveling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.
Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to new things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.
In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen, it is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone. It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.
Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year. He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He says he wished he had traveled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person,” said the 30-year-old man.
Richardson describes traveling alone like “a shot in the arm”, which “makes you a more confident person that is ready to deal with anything”. He said, “The feeling of having overcome something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I’m dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try.”
The great 19thcentury explorer John Muir once said, “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.”Which of the following will Kristina Wegscheider agree with?
| A． Traveling alone is a necessary experience for everyone. |
| B． It is more meaningful to travel in foreign countries. |
| C． It is comfortable to travel around without a friend. |
| D． Traveling abroad helps people to find new things. |
Traveling alone is challenging because ________.
| A． you have to make things on your own |
| B． it is hard for you to prove yourself to others |
| C． you can only depend on yourself whatever happens |
| D． it will finally build your character |
What can we infer about Chris Richardson?
| A． He started traveling alone at an early age. |
| B． He was once shot in the arm. |
| C． He used to work as a salesman. |
| D． His website inspires others a lot. |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A． Travel Abroad | B． Travel Alone |
| C． Travel Light | D． Travel Wide and Far |
Do you like chocolate? Maybe most people do. A box of it can be a great gift. Buy one for a friend and give it as a surprise. See how happy that person gets.
Say you just got a box of chocolate. Which piece do you pick first? A man has studied people’s choices. He says they tell something about the person. Did you choose a round piece? You are a person who likes to party. Did youchoosean ovalshape? You area person who likes to make things. Picking a square shape shows something else. The person is honest and truthful. You can depend on him or her.
What kind of chocolate do you pick? Maybe you like milk chocolate. This shows you have warm feelings about the past. Dark chocolate means something else. A person who chooses it looks toward the future. What about white chocolate? Would you choose it? If so, you may find it hard to make up your mind. Some people like chocolate with nuts. These are people who like to help others.
Do you believe these ideas? Can candy tell all these things? It doesn’t really matter. There is one sure thing about eaters of chocolate. They eat it because they like it.This passage mainly tells us ______.
| A．why people like chocolate |
| B．almost everyone likes chocolate |
| C．about different kinds of chocolate |
| D．different choices may show different characters |
Picking a round shape of chocolate shows that a person ______.
| A．likes singing, dancing and drinking |
| B．likes to do something for others |
| C．is good at making things |
| D．can be depended on |
From this passage we can see that a helpful man may choose chocolate ______.
| A．in oval shape | B．in square shape |
| C．with nuts | D．with coffee |
The last paragraph suggests that the writer ______.
| A．believes all the information about chocolate |
| B．does not believe the information about candy |
| C．is trying to get you to believe false information |
| D．doesn’t think it important whether you believe the ideas |
If you know exactly what you want, the best route to a job is to get specialized training．A recent survey shows that companies like graduates in such fields as business and health care who can go to work immediately with very little on-the-job training．
That’s especially true of booming fields that are challenging for workers．At Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, for example, bachelor’s degree graduates get an average of four or five job offers with salaries ranging from the high teens to the low 20s and plenty of chances for rapid advancement．Large companies, especially, like a background of formal education coupled with work experience．
But in the long run, too much specialization doesn’t pay off．Business, which has been flooded with MBAs, no longer considers the degree an automatic stamp of approval．The MBA may open doors and command a higher salary initially, but the impact of a degree washes out after five years．
As further evidence of the erosion(销蚀)of corporate(公司的)faith in specialized degrees, Michigan State’s Scheetz cites a pattern in corporate hiring practices．Although companies tend to take on specialists as new hires, they often seek out generalists for middle and upper-level management．“They want someone who isn’t constrained(限制)by nuts and bolts to look at the big picture, ” says Scheetz．
Time and again labor-market analysts mention a need for talents that liberal-arts majors are assumed to have：writing and communication skills, organizational skills, open-mindedness and adaptability, and the ability to analyze and solve problems．David Birch claims he does not hire anybody with an MBA or an engineering degree, “I hire only liberal-arts people because they have a less-than-canned way of doing things, ” says Birch．Liberal-arts means an academically thorough and strict program that includes literature, history, mathematics, economics, science, human behavior-plus a computer course or two．With that under your belt, you can feel free to specialize．“A liberal-arts degree coupled with an MBA or some other technical training is a very good combination in the marketplace, ” says Scheetz．What kinds of people are in high demand on the job market?
| A．Students with a bachelor’s degree in humanities． |
| B．People with an MBA degree from top universities． |
| C．People with formal schooling plus work experience |
| D．People with special training in engineering． |
By saying “…but the impact of a degree washes out after five years”(Line 5, Para．3), the author means ________．
| A．most MBA programs fail to provide students with a solid foundation |
| B．an MBA degree does not help promotion to managerial positions |
| C．MBA programs will not be as popular in five years’ time as they are now |
| D．in five people will forget about the degree the MBA graduates have got |
David Birch claims that he only hires liberal-arts people because ________．
| A．they are more capable of handling changing situations |
| B．they can stick to established ways of solving problems |
| C．they are thoroughly trained in a variety of specialized fields |
| D．they have attended special programs in management |
Which of the following statements does the author support?
| A．Specialists are more expensive to hire than generalists． |
| B．Formal schooling is less important than job training． |
| C．On-the-job training is, in the long run, less costly． |
| D．Generalists will outdo specialists in management． |
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