Why are so many people so afraid to fail? Quite simply because no one tells us how to fail so that failure (失败) becomes an experience that means growth. We forget that failure is part of the human condition and that every person has the right to fail.
Most parents work hard at preventing failure or protecting their children from the knowledge that they have failed. One way is to lower standards(标准). When a child finishes making a table, the mother describes it as “perfect” even though it doesn’t stand still. Another way is to blame (责怪) others. If John fails in science, his teacher is unfair or stupid.
There’s a problem with the two ways. It makes a child unprepared for life in the real world. The young need to learn that no one can be best at everything, no one can win all the time, and that it’s possible to enjoy a game even when you don’t win. A child who’s not invited to a birthday party, who doesn’t make the honour list on the baseball team, feels terrible, of course. But parents should not offer a quick consolations (安慰), prize or say, “It doesn’t matter.” Because it does. The young should be allowed to experience failure and be helped to come out of it.
Failure never gives people pleasure. It hurts both grown-ups and children. But it can be really good to your life when you learn to use it. You must learn to ask “Why did I fail?” Don’t blame anyone else. Ask yourself what you did wrong and how you can improve. If someone else can help, don’t be shy about asking them.
小题1:How do most parents prevent their children from failure?

A．They give them some presents.

B．They don’t tell them that they have failed.

C．They don’t blame others.

D．They help them to come out of failure.

小题2:Which of the following can a person learn when he fails?

A．It’s impossible to enjoy a game if he misses it.

B．He is the worst of all.

C．It’s natural not to win a game and no one can win all the time.

D．His teammates are not good enough.

小题3:The writer of this article thinks that if a child fails, parents should __________________.

A．give him a small prize

B．advise him to repeat failure

C．blame others

D．encourage him to learn from failure

小题4:4. Which would be the best title (标题) for the passage?

A．Learning from Failure

B．Ways of Preventing Failure

C．Reasons of Failure

D．Getting Pleasure from Failure

In the sea there are many islands. In its warm waters there are some little ones. We call them coral(珊瑚) islands.
A coral island is very nice to look at. It looks like a ring of land with trees, grass, and flowers on it. One part of the ring is open to the water. There is a little round lake inside the island.
If you look into this lake, you will see beautiful coral. You may think they are flowers.
If you look at a piece of coral, you will see many little holes in it. In each of these holes a very small sea animal has lived. These sea animals make the coral.
They began to build under the water. Year after year, the coral grew higher and higher. At last it grew out of the water.
Then the sea brought to it small trees and something else. After some years, these things changed into earth. Sometimes the wind brought seeds to this earth. Sometimes birds flew over it and brought seeds to the island. The little seeds grew. In a few years there were plants all over the island. In a few more years there were trees growing there.
So you see, these islands were built little by little. The workers were very small. Don’t they teach us a lesson? Can you think what the lesson is?
小题1: In the sea _____.

A．there are no coral islands	B．there are some coral islands
C．the water is always warm	D．we can see many flowers and fishes

小题2:A coral island looks like ______.

A．a round cake

B．trees, grass and flowers

C．a ring of land

D．a round lake

小题3:There are ____ in the holes in corals.

A．flowers

B．little corals

C．grass

D．sea animals

小题4:How did seeds of trees, grass and flowers come to the coral islands?

A．The wind and birds brought them to the coral islands.

B．Only the wind brought them there.

C．People brought them there.

D．Fishes brought them there.

小题5:From the story we learn that _____.

A．small workers can’t do big things

B．only big workers can do big things

C．small workers can do big things if they work hard and work a long time

D．all small things can do things

English breakfast is a very big meal —eggs, tomatoes, tea, coffee….
For many people lunch is a quick meal. In cities there are a lot of sandwich （三明治）bars ,where office workers can buy brown or white bread or a roll （面包卷）,and then all kinds of salad（色拉）and meat or fish to go in the sandwich. School children can have a hot meal at school, but many just take a sandwich, a drink and some fruit from home.
“Tea” means two things. It is a drink and a meal , some people have afternoon tea, with sandwiches, cakes and a cup of tea.
They usually have the evening meal quite early, between six o’clock and eight o’clock, and often all the family eats together. On Sundays many families have a traditional（传统的）lunch. They have chicken, pork,… with potatoes ,vegetables…
The Englishmen like food from other countries too, such as French, Chinese, Italian and Indian. People often get take-away meals---they buy the food outside and then bring it home to eat.
小题1:Many people in England have a ______ breakfast and a _____ lunch.

A．fast; small

B．little; slow

C．big; quick

D．slow; big

小题2:In _____ there are a lot of sandwich bars.

A．small towns

B．villages

C．countries

D．cities

小题3:The office workers can buy the ______ bread for lunch.

A．white

B．black

C．red

D．orange

小题4:What don’t they have when they have afternoon tea in this passage?

A．Sandwiches

B．Chicken

C．Cakes

D．A cup of tea

小题5:When they get a take-away meal , they have it _______

A．at home

B．in the school

C．outside

D．in the bars

In the past twenty years, riding bicycles has become more and more popular among people of all ages. (83) Bicycles have long played an important part in the lives of American young people. But today an even greater number of adults cycle along roadsides and bicycle paths. These new riders are often trying to become fit or lose weight. They have found that bicycling is a pleasant way to stay healthy.
This is certainly good for health. But it has also brought some problems. With all these added people on the road, bicycle safety has become a matter of real importance.
Bicycle safety is mostly a matter of common sense. People should ride only on bicycle paths where they will not be badly hurt. There are also a number of rules that riders should follow, especially when riding on streets or highways. Bicyclists should never ride against the traffic, nor should they carry other people on their bicycles. They are also supposed to ride in single line on busy streets and to walk bicycles across the busy intersections (交叉路口) . (84)By following these rules, bicycle riders will not only stay healthy but also be safe.
In one recent year, the National Safety Council reported that 34 thousand bicycle riders were hurt in highway accidents. In that same year, another six hundred riders were killed. Since the introduction of crash helmets (头盔) in 1980, the number of injuries (伤者) and deaths from bicycling accidents had gone down. Today, more and more riders realize the dangers of bicycling. They are wearing helmets and paying closer attention to cycling rules.
根据短文内容回答下列问题。
小题1:How many rules should the riders follow? Give one example.
                                                                             
小题2:According to the National Safety Council’s report, what’s the total number of injuries and deaths in one recent year?
                                                                             
B. 将短文中划线部分译成汉语。
小题3:                                                                          
小题4:                                                                       
C. 请给短文拟一个适当的英文标题。
小题5:                                    

In England recently three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop and waited. About five minutes later, the bus they wanted came along. They were just going to get on when suddenly there was a loud noise behind them. People rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted at them. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreigners seem all at sea and looked embarrassed (窘迫的). No one had told them about the British custom (习惯)of lining up for a bus that the first person who arrives at the bus stop is the first person to get on the bus .
Learning the language of a country isn't enough. If you want to have a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your host country. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man shaking his head at another to show that he doesn't agree. But in many parts of India a shake of the head means agreement. Nodding your head when you are given a drink in Bulgaria will most probably leave you thirsty. In that country, you shake your head to mean 'yes'— a nod means ‘no’. At a meal in countries on the Arabic Peninsula, you will find that your glass is repeated refilled as soon as you drink up. If you think that you have had enough, you should take the cup or glasses in your hand and give it a little shake from side to side or place your hand over the top.
In Europe it’s quite usual to cross your legs when you are sitting talking to someone even at an important meeting. Doing this in Thailand, however, could bring about trouble. Also, you should try to avoid (避免)touching the head of an adult ——it's just not done in Thailand .
小题1: The British people tried to push the three gentlemen out of the way, because the gentlemen _________.

A．were foreigners	B．didn't have tickets
C．made a loud noise	D．didn't line up for the bus

小题2:Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A．If you want to have a pleasant journey in a foreign country, you only need to learn the language of the country.

B．In India it is considered polite to touch an adult’s head.

C．To cross one's legs at an important meeting in Europe is a common habit.

D．In Bulgaria, if you don’t want to drink, you should cover the cup with your hand.

小题3: The best title for this article is ________.

A．People's Everyday Life	B．Mind Your Manners
C．Habit is quite important	D．Language and customs

For some people, it’s easy to get dressed for work. Pilots and police officers, for example, don’t have to make decisions about their work clothes. They wear uniforms to work every day.
For many office workers, however, it is more difficult to choose clothes for work. They do not wear uniforms to the office. Also, many organizations are changing their dress codes. They are allowing their employees to wear casual(随意的) clothes to work.
The change to casual work clothes began in the 1990s. At first, many companies in the United States allowed employees to wear casual clothes on one day of the week—Friday. Friday became “Casual Friday” or “Dress-down Friday”. Today, however, many companies are allowing their employees to wear casual clothes every day of the week.
Some studies show that people are producing and achieving more when they are wearing comfortable clothes. Some companies also like the casual dress code because they don’t need to buy special clothes for work. They can save money this way.
Unfortunately, a casual dress code can also cause problems. Sometimes employees think they can wear anything. Many companies have rules about casual clothes. They list the kinds of clothes that are not “business-casual” clothes. Blue jeans, sandals, and sportswear are examples of clothes that are usually too casual for the office.
小题1:What do pilots and police officers wear to work?

A．Casual clothes.

B．Sportswear.

C．Blue jeans.

D．Uniforms.

小题2:What do the underlined phrase “dress codes” mean?

A．They tell what you can do and can’t do.

B．They are rules about what clothes to wear.

C．They save a lot of money.

D．They show you what to say at work.

小题3:“Dress-down Friday” is a day when employees are allowed to_______.

A．eat delicious food

B．have smart uniforms on

C．wear casual clothes to work

D．work longer hours

小题4:Why do some companies agree to the casual dress code?

A．They don’t need to buy special clothes for work.

B．It is difficult for them to choose clothes for work.

C．They don’t like the same uniforms.

D．It is easy for them to make decisions about work clothes.

小题5:What problems can a casual dress code cause according to the passage?

A．Employees seldom wear comfortable clothes.

B．Usually employees put on expensive clothing.

C．Employees always have too little on themselves.

D．Sometimes employees dress too casually.

Many people who work in London prefer to live outside it, and to go in to their offices or schools every day by train, car or bus, even though this means they have to get up early in the morning and reach home late in the evening. 
One advantage of living outside London is that houses are cheaper. Even a small flat in London without a garden costs quite a lot to rent. With the same money, one can get a little house in the country with a garden of one's own.
Then, in the country one can really get away from the noise and hurry of busy working lives. Even though one has to get up earlier and spend more time in trains or buses, one can sleep better at night and during weekends and on summer evenings, one can enjoy the fresh, clean air of the country. If one likes gardens, one can spend one's free time digging, planting, watering and doing the hundred and one other jobs which are needed in a garden. Then, when the flowers and vegetables come up, one has got the reward together with those who have shared the secret of nature.
Some people, however, take no interest in country things: for them, happiness lies in the town, with its cinemas and theatres, beautiful shops and busy streets, dance-halls and restaurants. Such people would feel that their life was not worth living if they had to live it outside London. An occasional (偶尔的) walk in one of the parks and a fortnight's (two weeks) visit to the sea every summer is all the country they want: the rest of the country they are quite prepared to spend with those who are glad to get away from London every night.
小题1:Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．People who love nature prefer to live outside the city.

B．People who work in London prefer to live in the country.

C．Some people enjoying city life prefer to work and live inside London.

D．Many nature lovers, though working in London, prefer to live outside the city.

小题2:One can use the same money for _______ to buy a little house with a garden in the country.

A．getting a small flat with a garden

B．having a small flat with a garden

C．renting a small flat without a garden

D．buying a small flat without a garden

小题3:When the flowers and vegetables in the garden come up, those who_______ have been rewarded.

A．live in the country

B．have a garden of their own

C．are busy digging and planting

D．have spent time working in the garden

小题4:People who think happiness lies in the town would feel that _______ if they had to live outside London.

A．their life was meaningless

B．their life was invaluable

C．they didn't need a happy life

D．they couldn’t sleep late in the morning

小题5:What does the writer think of the life in London?

A．He likes living in the city centre.

B．He prefers to live in the countryside.

C．It isn’t mentioned in the passage.

D．He enjoys working in the garden at weekends.

“Who needs a shopping mall if you have Taobao?” says Wang Lin, 28, a writer in Beijing.
Taobao, China’s largest online shopping site (网上购物站), has become an important part of Wang Lin’s life. She spends lots of money on Taobao.
A growing number of Chinese Internet users like Wang have found the joys of online shopping. Most online shoppers are students or young people. More women shop online than men. Clothing and home-use products (产品) are the most popular online.
It was reported that more than 250 billion yuan was spent on online shopping last year, 80% through Taobao.
Taobao means “looking for treasure” in Chinese. People can find almost everything they need on Taobao, from clothes to books, from candies to DVD players.
You may question the security of online shopping, Wang Lin said, “It’s very safe and convenient. Unless you receive the products from the sellers and are satisfied with them, the shop owner will not get the money. You can also get your money back if you want to return the products.”
小题1:What are the most popular online?

A．Candies and DVD players.

B．Treasure products

C．Clothing and home-use products.

D．Clothes and books.

小题2:Taobao is_______________.

A．a shopping mall

B．an online shopping site

C．an online shopper

D．the China’s largest website

小题3:In the last paragraph, the underlined word “them” refers to (所指) “_____________”.

A．the shop owners

B．products

C．sellers

D．online shops

小题4:Which is the best title of the passage?

A．Wang Lin’s life

B．Online shopping in China

C．China’s online shoppers

D．Shopping online is not safe

Here are some tips on how to talk with your parents.
Try to start your talk with something fun. This will make talking easier. For example, ask your parents questions about their day. They love this!
Make it clear what you want to tell your parents if they have an opinion, let them finish and don’t disturb. Ask them to do the same for you.
Show them respect by listening to them carefully. Look at their eyes sincerely.
Be honest. Honesty builds trust(信任). Life is good when your parents trust you.
If your parents don’t understand, that’s OK. It doesn’t mean they don’t love you or they’re not trying. Sometimes you have to explain things to them again or in a different way.
When you finish the talk, thank them for listening. Say something like, “Thanks! That helped.” It will let them know this is important to you, and make them want to do it more often.
If you feel there are still things to talk about, set up a time with them to talk about it another day.
小题1:What’s the main idea of this passage?
A. We should show respect to our parents.
B. There are some ways to talk with our parents.
C. It’s important to trust our parents.
小题2:What should we do when our parents have some opinions?
A. Let them finish and don’t disturb.
B. Let them listen to you.
C. Argue with them and then say sorry.
小题3:Why should we look at their eyes while listening?
A. Because they make us do that.
B. Because this shows we agree with what they say.
C. Because this makes them feel respected.
小题4:When we finish the talk, we should tell our parents that we _______ what they have done for us. This will let them know talking is important to us.
A. are careful of
B. are thankful for
C. are satisfied with
小题5:Which is the best title for this passage?
A. Some Tips on How to Talk with Parents.
B. Respect Parents.
C. Try to Talk with Parents.

In the past ten years, many scientists have studied the differences between men and women. And they all got the same answer: The sexes (性别) are different, because their brains are different. And this, the scientists say, makes men and women see the world in different ways.
Boys, for example, generally are better than girls at mathematical (数学的) ideas. Boys also generally are better than girls at the kind of hand and eye movements necessary for ball sports. Girls, on the other hand generally start speaking earlier than boys. And they generally see better in the dark than boys and are better at learning foreign languages.
What makes men and women better at one thing or another? The answer is the brain. The brain has two sides connected by nerve(神经) tracks. The left side generally is used for mathematics, speech and writing. The right side is used for artistic creation and the expression for emotions. In men and women, different areas in each side of the brain develop differently. In boys, for example, it’s the area used for mathematics. In girls, it is the area used for language skills. Another interesting difference is that the two sides of a man’s brain are connected by smaller nerves than the two sides of a woman’s brain area.
小题1:Which of the following is best to outline(概括) the article?
A. Research on the Brain
B. Differences between Men and Women
C. Who are Better, Boys or Girls
小题2:________ men and women think differently.
A. The different brains make
B. The different experiences make
C. The influences of society make
小题3:According to the article, girls are generally better than boys at _______ in your school.
A. mathematics
B. physics
C. English
小题4:Which of the following is true?
A. The left side of brain in boys generally develops better than that in girls.
B. The left side of brain in girls generally develops better than that in boys.
C. The area in girls used for language skills develops better.
小题5:In men and women the number of nerves connecting the halves of brain _______.
A. is the same
B. is different
C. is zero