I ALMOST failed out of college and it nearly broke my self-confidence. I had been at the top of my high school class, the total golden child. So when I decided that I wanted to attend Columbia University for graduate school, I was sure it would be close to impossible.

My goals were to prove to myself that my years of academic success in secondary school had not happened by chance and prepare for a career in children’s media. But first I had to get in.

So I enrolled (报名) in a GRE test prep course and threw myself into the class. The first part was pretty scary and by the third, I knew it wasn’t going to get any easier. I reconsidered my plan to take the GRE.

For the first time in my life, I considered how I should go about getting into graduate school. What were my special skills? Would any of them get me into graduate school?

I got a job working on a project sponsored by the dean’s (系主任的) office on campus and enrolled in a class. I had a new plan: Be a top student in the class while working on campus, get letters of recommendation from my boss and my professor, then hope that playing to my strengths like writing interesting papers would be enough for my application.

I worked my butt off (很努力工作) that semester. With finals approaching, I felt confident I would get an “A” in the course, so it was time for step two. I asked my boss to write a letter of recommendation. She immediately agreed. But my professor said no. She did not know me well enough and the semester was not completed. However, I decided I just would not take no for an answer. I asked if she would least write a short note unofficially supporting my application. After some uncomfortable conversations, she finally agreed. In the end, I got in!

I revisit that moment of persistence (执着) again and again. I have leapt into many other opportunities since then. Now I am starting a company born out of my graduate school research in children’s media. Our first product is a mobile game for teen girls that breaks down major life milestones (里程碑) into missions (任务). On its surface, the product helps girls connect with each other. But it also helps them develop the tools to live life without limits.

1.The writer stopped taking the GRE prep course because ______.

A. the beginning of the GRE course was really frightening

B. she realized by the third part of her GRE class that her plan wouldn’t work

C. Columbia University would not accept the GRE test

D. she didn’t put all her efforts into the GRE course at first

2. The underlined words “playing to my strengths” in Paragraph 5 probably mean “ ______”.

A. developing my physical power

B. making use of what I am good at

C. doing something to the best of my ability

D. doing something with all the strength I have

3.One of the reasons why the professor refused to write a letter of recommendation was that ______.

A. the author had almost failed out of college

B. the author was not a top student in high school

C. the author was not her favorite student in the class

D. the professor did not know enough about the author

4. The writer succeeded in getting into the graduate school because of ______.

A. her “A” grade

B. her strong letters of recommendation

C. her strong determination and her good plan to make herself stand out

D. her interest in children’s media and outstanding skills in writing interesting papers

IN China, red is known to be a lucky color. But you may be surprised to know that British culture is also full of the color red. It’s true: Go to Britain and you will see red everywhere.

There are red postboxes on street corners and on the sides of buildings. The British red phone box is famous all over the world. The famous double-decker (双层) bus is red. Red is the color traditionally worn by British soldiers in battle (战争), and there is red in the UK’s Union Jack national flag. Britain even has a famous team of stunt (特技) jet fighters (喷气式战斗机) called “The Red Arrows”.

To go with British culture’s love of red, British nature also features many red animals. A beloved bird is the robin (知更鸟), which has a bright red breast (胸脯). At Christmastime in winter, the bird is commonly found on the greetings cards people send each other. There is also quite a rare animal called the red squirrel (松鼠). Foxes are red, and they used to be hunted by men in red outfits (服装).

But is red considered lucky to British people? A good way to see how a culture looks at a color is to look at the way it uses it in language. The results may surprise you. Even though Britain has a lot of red on its high streets and in its countryside, red is used quite differently as a metaphor (比喻). If someone “sees red”, they are angry. When a person is “red faced”, they are out of breath or blushing (脸红). Red is also a political color: it means a left-winger (blue is the color of the political right). To be “in the red” is to be in debt (someone in credit (存款) is “in the black”).

Look hard enough and you’ll find the color red being used in all countries. For instance the “red heart” symbol (符号) is pretty universal. But whether the British realize it or not, red is everywhere in Britain. It does seem that the country is in love with the color.

1. The article is mainly about ______.

A. the metaphor of red in the English language

B. the preference for red animals in Britain

C. the history of red items in Britain

D. the color red in British culture

2. Someone saying bad words about you behind your back might make you ______.

A. red-faced B. see red

C. in the red D. in the black

3. It can be inferred from the article that ______.

A. red has different meanings depending on the context (情境)

B. the color red is not as popular as it was before in Britain

C. most British people are aware of (知道的) how popular the color red is in British culture

D. British people are often asked to explain the meaning of the color red

4.The main purpose of the article is to ______.

A. compare B. judge C. inform D. argue

FOR thousands of years, Stonehenge has confused visitors with a seemingly unanswerable question: Why would anyone carry so many huge stones across Britain and put them in a ring? It seems even stranger when you think of the fact that it was done by prehistoric people working without modern technology, not even a wheel.

Stonehenge has started endless debates over the centuries. Experts have said at different times that it was a temple, a calendar (日历) or a graveyard (墓地).

Yet “all the ideas to date could be mistaken,” said Julian Spalding, a famous art critic (评论家) and former director of some of the UK’s leading museums. “We’ve been looking at Stonehenge the wrong way: from the earth, which is very much a 20th century viewpoint,” he told The Guardian.

Spalding has put forward a new theory about Stonehenge in his latest book, Realisation: From Seeing to Understanding. “The current theories about Stonehenge are based on looking across the ground, which is a modern idea,” he writes in his new book. He told The Guardian that in ancient times, spiritual ceremonies didn’t happen on the ground. Prehistoric people believed that in this way they could get closer to the heavens. So Spalding says that “rituals (仪式) at Stonehenge were performed in the same way – not among the stones, but on top of them,” reported The Washington Post.

He re-imagines a scene in his book, explaining how the mysterious site was used: Stonehenge held up a large, circular platform (平台). It was a raised altar (圣坛) reached by stairs, and thousands of people might have worshipped (祈祷) there.

To support his theory, Spalding lists examples from ancient civilizations worldwide. In China, Peru and Turkey, such sacred (神圣的) monuments (遗迹) were built high up, whether on man-made or natural sites. In an interview with The Washington Post, Spalding said the wood that would have been used for the platform had long since rotted away (腐烂), leaving only the stone pillars (柱子) that supported it behind.

So far scholars have had “a fair degree of skepticism (怀疑)” about these ideas, according to The Huffington Post. Sir Barry Cunliffe, prehistorian and Oxford University archaeology (考古学) professor, said: “He could be right, but I know of no evidence to support it ... There are a large number of stone circles around the country which clearly didn’t have a platform on top. So why should Stonehenge?”

1.What is the article mainly about?

A. The history of Stonehenge.

B. A new theory about Stonehenge.

C. Why Stonehenge has started endless debates over the centuries.

D. How Stonehenge is different from other ancient civilizations.

2.According to Spalding’s theory, Stonehenge ______.

A. was a prehistoric calendar

B. should be looked at from the earth

C. was a raised altar for worship

D. was simply a natural site

3.How does Spalding support his theory about Stonehenge?

A. By raising questions.

B. By providing related figures.

C. By quoting other experts’ research.

D. By giving examples from other civilizations.

4.We can infer from the article that Cunliffe is ______ Spalding’s theory.

A. supportive of B. amazed at

C. worried about D. doubtful about

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

Last month I got the chance to take part in an underwater research project in an area of the Gulf of Mexico called the Flower Gardens. A team of professional researchers, led by the scientist Dr. Matt Phillips, was trying to learn more about the fish and various creatures that live in this part of the sea. 1.

The team used a piece of underwater equipment called a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to collect information. The ROV could measure water depth and temperature and it also had a camera that sent live film back to the boat. 2. It was controlled by a computer on the boat, and I was allowed to operate it a few times.

3. At first, I was quite frightened — mainly because I couldn’t see land in any direction. 4. It was amazing to see the colourful fish swimming around and I could see all the way to the Flower Gardens, which are almost 30 metres down.

I will never forget the Flower Gardens. The trip was like a holiday but I also learnt new things about science and research projects. The team was very friendly and everyone was happy to explain what they knew about the sea. It was a great opportunity and it has made me think about my goals in life. 5.

A. The ROV was great fun.

B. The ROV was difficult to operate.

C. However, the thing I enjoyed most was diving into the water.

D. But as soon as I jumped into the water, I wasn’t afraid anymore.

E. The only thing I disliked was collecting information about the sea.

F. The experience will definitely help me work harder to become a scientist.

G. The Flower Gardens are a long way from the shore and we spent three days on boat.

完形填空

It was a hot day, and a big lion was sleeping under the sun. Suddenly he felt something on his face. The lion was not _________ as he had been enjoying his sleep. Angrily he _________ whatever it was that was on his face. A tiny mouse fell to the ground.

“I shall kill you for _________ me up!” the angry lion said.

“Please, I ask you to spare (饶) my life. I have a big family to _________ and in my hurry I did not notice you in time among the long grass,” the mouse said.

“_________ would I spare your pitiful life? You are of no use to _________ . You are even too small to eat!” the lion said.

“No one’s _________ tells the value of his life,” the mouse said. “But I’ll make you a(n) _________ : If you spare my life, one day I shall _________ that debt (债).”

The lion laughed and let the mouse go. “There is no way you could ever _________ a lion’s life. But go and feed your children and _________ show your face again.” After that he closed his eyes again and the mouse ran to safety. The mouse _________ to keep his promise.

One day, hunters _________ the lion alive and tied him to the ground with ropes (绳子). The lion lay there _________ , waiting for his fate (命运). Suddenly, when the lion opened his eyes, he saw a tiny mouse in front of him. The lion _________ the mouse as the same one he had almost _________a long time ago. Without a word, the mouse got to work, and during the night, he bit through the _________ .

He worked tirelessly and, just before the sun rose, the lion could quietly _________ to safety. Before he disappeared he looked at the _________ mouse and said quietly, “I shall remember your _________ , and no longer shall lions kill mice as long as I am alive.”And so it was from that day on.

1.A. annoyed B. happy C. confused D. afraid

2.A. hit B. passed C. discovered D. touched

3.A. picking B. calling C. waking D. taking

4.A. care B. feed C. help D. hold

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

6.A. someone B. anyone C. one D. none

7.A. size B. age C. weight D. wealth

8.A. request B. apology C. suggestion D. promise

9.A. return B. receive C. repay D. remember

10.A. end B. guide C. save D. kill

11.A. never B. always C. still D. just

12.A. decided B. hesitated (犹豫) C. pretended D. agreed

13.A. beat B. found C. locked D. caught

14.A. helplessly B. weakly C. calmly D. proudly

15.A. noticed B. accepted C. regarded D. recognized

16.A. kept B. killed C. fooled D. misunderstood

17.A. ropes B. fences C. grass D. ground

18.A. settle B. remove C. wander D. escape

19.A. scary B. exhausted C. pitiful D. energetic

20.A. word B. work C. help D. company

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。

As the plane circled over the airport，everyone sensed that something was wrong. The plane __1.__ ( move) unsteadily through the air，and although the passengers __2.__ (fasten) their seat belts，they were suddenly thrown forward. At that moment，the air－hostess presented. She looked very pale, __3.__ was quite calm. Speaking quickly and almost in a whisper，she informed everyone that the pilot had fainted and asked if any of the _4.__ (passenger) knew anything about machines. After a moment's hesitation，_5.__ man got up and followed the hostess into the pilot's cabin. Moving the pilot aside，the man took his seat and listened carefully to the urgent instructions that __6.__ (send) by radio from the airport below. To everyone's relief，the plane，which was __7._ (dangerous)close to the ground at the moment，soon began to climb. The man had to circle the airport several times to become familiar __8.__ the controls of the plane. The critical moment came __9.__ he had to land. The man，_10.__ (follow) the instructions，guided the plane toward the airfield，and it landed safely after a long run along the runway.

短文改错

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用(\)划掉。

修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2．只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。

Someone told me that Li Ming had stolen a pen out my deskmate. I felt I should let my deskmate knew, and before I told my deskmate about it, he asked Li Ming about it. He didn’t admit steal the pen and it caused a terribly argument between them. Later it turned out that the story wasn’t true, and my deskmate refuses to talk to me. It took quite few days for my deskmate to accept my apology. I’ve learned my lessons from it. I shouldn’t have mistakenly believed what that others said and passed it on. Although my deskmate has forgiven him, I still feel ashamed.

书面表达

假设你是李华。本周六你班将组织参观位于你市郊区(suburb)的某有机农场。请你用英语给你们的外籍老师约翰(John)写一封邮件邀请他参加你们的活动。内容包括：

1. 活动目的：让同学们亲身体验有机农业的耕种方式，了解吃有机食品的益处；

2. 活动项目：①专人引导参观，探究作物轮作(crop rotation)对土壤保护的重要性；

②农场将划出一块地让同学们体验农活。

注意：1. 词数100左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

As a child, I was really afraid of the dark and of getting lost. These fears were very real and caused me some uncomfortable moments.

Maybe it was the strange way things looked and sounded in my own room at night that scared me so much. There was never complete darkness, but always a streetlight or passing car lights, which made clothes on the back of a chair take on the shape of a wild animal. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the curtains seem to move when there was no wind. A very low sound in the floor would seem a hundred times louder than in the day. My imagination (想象) would run wild, and my heart would beat fast. I would lie very still so that the “enemy” would not discover me.

Another of my childhood fears was that I would get lost, especially on the way home from school. Every morning I got on the school bus right near my home. That was no problem. After school, though, when all the buses were lined up along the street, I was afraid that I would get in the wrong one and be taken to some other strange places. On school or family trips to a park or a museum, I wouldn’t let the leaders out of my sight.

Perhaps one of the worst fears of all I had as a child was that of not being liked or accepted by others. Being popular was so important to me then, and the fear of not being liked was a serious one.

One of the processes growing up is being able to realize and overcome our fears. Understanding the things that scared us as children helps us achieve greater success later in life.

1.The author had _______ kind(s) of fears when she was a child.

A．three B．two C．one D．none

2._______ would scare the author at night.

A．Wild animals and enemies

B．Moving curtains

C．A very low sound in the floor

D．Wild imagination

3.When she went to some other places, she would _______.

A．walk away without others

B．follow others closely

C．take a bus by herself

D．make sure not to take a wrong bus

4.Which of the following would be possibly true when she was a child

A．She was always the leader of the others.

B．She always got poor grades.

C．She thought being popular among people was important.

D．She was not liked by others at all.

Have you got any wonderful plans for your coming summer vacation? Here are some wonderful films for you to kill time.

1.This passage aims to .

A．introduce films for a film corporation

B．recommend several films for fun

C．advertise several films for a website

D．make comments on films for a cinema

2.If you want to kill time with your nine-year-old little brother in the cinema, which of the following film should you avoid

A．2012 B．500 Days of Summer

C．Orphan D．Away We Go.

3. Who is a film director in Hollywood?

A．Esther. B．Tom and Summer.

C．Burt and Verona. D．Roland Emmerich.

4. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage

A．Orphan is a comedy about Esther adopted by a kind family.

B．500 Days of Summer is a romance with a happy ending.

C．Away We Go shows beautiful scenery on the young couple’s journey.

D．The ancient Mayan prediction is going to happen in 2012.