Before my first summer vacation at college, my roommate Ted asked me to work with him on his father’s farm in Argentina. The idea of spending two months in Argentina was exciting. But I was afraid of it. I had never been far from New England. What would it be like in a strange country? What about the language? The more I thought about it, the more the idea worried me.

In the end I turned down the invitation. As soon as Ted asked somebody else to go, I began kicking myself. I had turned down something I wanted to do because I was afraid, and had ended up feeling depressed (沮丧的) . That unhappy summer taught me a valuable lesson out of which I developed a rule for myself: do what makes you worried; don’t do what makes you depressed.

At the end of my senior year, I began to think about becoming a writer. But my professor was telling me to aim at teaching. I hesitated (犹豫). The idea of trying to live by writing was a lot scarier than spending a summer in Argentina. Back and forth I went, making my decision, unmaking it. Suddenly I realized that every time I gave up the idea of writing, that downhearted feeling went through me.

Giving up on what I really wanted to do depressed me. Right then I learned another lesson. To avoid that kind of depression meant having to bear a certain amount of worry and concern.

When I first began writing articles, I was frequently required to interview big names. Before each interview I would get anxieties (焦虑) in the mind and my hands would shake. One person I particularly admired was the great composer Duke Ellington. On the stage and on television, he seemed the very model of confidence. Then I learned Ellington still got stage fright and had anxiety attacks. I went on doing those frightening interviews. Then I realized that I was even looking forward to the interviews. What had happened to those anxieties?

Well, in truth, the anxieties were still there, but there were fewer of them. I had benefited from a process of overcoming them. If you put an individual in an anxious situation often enough, he will eventually learn that there isn’t anything to be worried about. This brings me to a conclusion: you’ll never get rid of anxiety by avoiding the things that caused it. The point is that the new, the different, is definitely scary (可怕的). But each time you try something, you learn, and as the learning piles up, the world opens to you.

1. What does the phrase “turned down” mean in the second paragraph?

A. To say “No” to his roommate.       B. To say in a low voice.

C. To put away the invitation.          D. To take the invitation.

2. We can infer from the passage that the writer________.

    A. finds it difficult to make decision

    B. has found out what causes anxiety

    C. was inspired (受启发的) by Duke Ellington’s stage fright

    D. no longer feels anxious about new experiences 

3. Which of the following opinions does the writer probably accept?

       A. Hesitation leads to depression.

B. Anxiety can be a positive drive.

     C. Avoiding anxiety reduces depression.

D. Depression is a signal that one is growing up.

Dear Mr. King,

Your supermarket chain is excellent in many ways. I enjoy the things you sell, such as the selection of produce (农产品) and fresh bakery items. I have been a long time supermarket shopper and hope to continue for many years. I have found, however, that I must make a separate shopping trip to one of your competitors because there are many items your store does not carry. This becomes inconvenient for me, as my time is valuable, and I do not like to make two trips. Your low prices and excellent customer service keep me coming back to your supermarket, but I would be a more satisfied customer if I could find all the items I need in one place.

To tell the truth, I have never been able to purchase nacho (烤干酪辣味玉米片) cheese soup at your store. I can find other flavors (味道) of soup, but your store does not carry nacho cheese soup, a common ingredient (原料) in many of my recipes. In addition, I can only find large wonton wrappers (馄饨皮), while many other stores carry both large and small and offer a more varied selection for their customers. Another example is Regent Brand Chili Seasoning. Though it is not a leading brand, it is still common on the shelves of other grocery stores in this area and is superior in flavor to its competitors.

I sincerely hope to continue a relationship with your store, and I hope that you will consider the possibility of expanding your goods to be more competitive.

Yours truly,

Bob Watson 

1. According to the passage, who often buy things in the supermarket?

A. Mr. King.                      B. Bob Watson.   

C. Regent Brand.                  D. Mrs. Watson.

2. From the first paragraph, we know the supermarket chain ________.

       A. meets all the writer’s needs             B. is the best in every way

       C. offers good customer service          D. is far from the writer’s home

3. How does the writer present his point in Paragraph Two?

A. By giving examples.                        

B. By using some sharp words.

C. By providing scientific findings.       

D. By comparing two different stores.

Why do people love pandas so much? Perhaps it is because they look very cute, or perhaps it is because there are not many left.

Pandas are actually called giant pandas. Many people also call them panda bears because they are mammals (哺乳类) classified from the bear family. Giant pandas originate in China. Pictures of both the dragon and the giant panda are often regarded as the symbols of China.

Giant pandas look different from other bears because they are white with black patches around their eyes, over their ears, and across their bodies. Although they look adorable and move slow, they can be as dangerous as any other bear when they are angry. Pandas mostly eat bamboo, but they may also eat other food like eggs, fish, oranges and bananas.

Many people think that giant pandas have few babies, and that is one of the reasons that there are not many of them left. But scientists say that a female panda may have about five or six cubs during her life. The female panda gives birth to one or two panda cubs, but she is only able to take care of only one of her cubs. As a result, one of her cubs dies soon after birth because of a lack of intense care.

The giant panda is an endangered species, and there are only about 2,000 giant pandas left in the world. People have been trying hard to protect giant pandas. It looks like their work is paying off because the number of giant pandas is increasing.

1.Why do some people call “pandas” panda bears?

A.      Because they look like bears.

B.      Because they like to live with bears.

C.      Because they are often regarded as bears.

D.     Because they are mammals classified from the bear family.

2.What do pandas like eating most?

A. Bamboo.         B. Fish.         C. Bananas.       D. Oranges.

3. How many baby pandas can a female panda have in her life?

A. Three.           B. Four or five.   C. Five or six.     D. More than seven. 

4. What does the phrase “paying off ” mean in the last paragraph?

    A. To result in success.                B.  To pay money on it.

C. To stop working.                  D.  To make it work.

阅读短文选择最佳选项。

阅读下面四篇短文，根据短文内容，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选择最佳选项

Activities are published in the local magazine:

■  English Corner in the Open Air ( The students from the English department of a Foreign Language Institute hold an English Corner in Chaoyang Square every Saturday evening. )

■  Spring Art ( More than 100 artists get together and see the work of painters, photographers. There are many famous pictures for sale, too. )

■  New Century Center ( It is a clothes shop in the center of the city. It is going to hold an end-of-season sale. The price of many dresses is cheap. )

■  Aoi Co. Ltd. ( It is a company which produces the body warmer. The body warmer is a new kind of machine that can make the body warm. )

■  Dance Together ( A dancing ball will be held in the People’s Square this weekend. )

■  Club Room ( It is a hotel offering services for which you can use a telephone to keep in touch with your family and children for free. )

1. How many activities are introduced in the magazine?

A. Four.        B. Six.          C. Seven.        D. Eight.

2. Who may go to the English corner on Saturday?

A. Jack.        B. Sandy.        C. Wu Dong.     D. Shirley.

3. Sandy may go to ________ to buy some dresses.

A. Club Room.                   B. New Century Center.  

C. Spring Art.                    D. Aoi Co. Ltd.

完形填空。阅读短文，掌握其大意，然后从短文后各题所给的四个选项中选择最佳选项

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know exactly    1   to do for each person.

When people are in your life for a reason, it is   2   to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to    3    you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then,    4   any wrong doing on your part or at any inconvenient time, they will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die, sometimes they    5     away, and sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What you must    6    is that your need has been met, and your desire fulfilled. When their work is done, it is time to    7    on.

When people come into your life for a season, it is because your turn has come to share, grow and learn. They bring you a(n)    8    of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have    9   done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime lessons: those things you must build upon in order to have a   10   emotional (情感的) foundation. Your job is to accept the lessons, love the person, and put what you have    11    to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is sacred but friendship is sensible.

In a word, thank you for being part of my life,    12   you were here for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

1．A．where            B．what                  C．when           D．how

2．A．hardly            B．closely               C．usually         D．finally

3．A．provide              B．instruct              C．teach           D．fill

4．A．besides              B．since                  C．until    D．without

5．A．put                    B．walk                  C．take             D．give

6．A．realize            B．understand       C．learn        D．forget

7．A．move              B．try                     C．hold            D．keep

8．A．progress          B．hope                  C．instruction          D．experience

9．A．even                B．never                 C．just             D．ever

10．A．solid              B．soft                C．new         D．rapid

11．A．known           B．written            C．learned        D．heard

12．A．before             B．for               C．or               D．whether

Betty is going to London. But I don’t know ________. 

    A. when she sets off                  B. when does she set off

    C. when she will set off               D. when will she set off

There are some trees near our school. They ________ last Monday.

    A. water           B. watered        C. have watered   D. were watered

─______ are your family going this summer holiday?

─To Dalian. We’ll stay there for a week.

A. Where B. When C. How D. Why

Jenny isn’t doing ________ now. Maybe she can help sweep the floor.

     A. something       B. anything      C. nothing       D. everything

─Which dress is _____, the blue one or the yellow one?

─It depends on you.

A. beautiful B. more beautiful

C. most beautiful D. the most beautiful